FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: colorectal cancer, multigenic
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General Information
Name
colorectal cancer, multigenic
FlyBase ID
FBhh0000658
Disease Ontology Term
Parent Disease
OMIM
Overview

This report encompasses a series of multigenic models of colorectal cancer, using combinations of Drosophila genes related to a number of human genes implicated in this disease: human NRAS or KRAS (using an activated form of Dmel\Ras85D), human TP53 (using RNAi-knockdown targeted to Dmel\p53), human APC (using RNAi-knockdown targeted to Dmel\Apc), human PIK3CA (using RNAi-knockdown targeted to Dmel\Pten, a negative regulator of the PIK3 signaling pathway), human PTEN (using RNAi-knockdown targeted to Dmel\Pten), and human SMAD4 (using RNAi-knockdown targeted to Dmel\Med). Multigenic combinations were created in the adult hindgut epithelium using GAL4 driven by the hindgut-specific byn promoter. 32 different combinations that correspond those found in colorectal human tumors have been characterized; mechanisms of drug resistance have been investigated.

A CRISPR-Cas9-based colorectal cancer model uses an ISC-specific driver to express sgRNAs targeting multiple Drosophila genes, Apc, Apc2, p53, Med and Pten, combined with expression of activated Ras85D.

See also human disease model reports for 'colorectal cancer' (FBhh0000178), 'cancer, multiple, RAS-related' (FBhh0000474), 'cancer, multiple, TP53-related' (FBhh0000340), 'cancer, multiple, PIK3C-related' (FBhh0000400), 'familial adenomatous polyposis 1' (FBhh0000135).

[updated May 2023 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Disease Summary: colorectal cancer, multigenic
OMIM report
Human gene(s) implicated
Symptoms and phenotype
Genetics

Genes recurrently mutated in colon tumors lead to misregulation of five distinct signalling pathways: Wnt, receptor tyrosine kinase/Ras, p53, transforming growth factor-b and PI3K (FBrf0234055).

Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information
External links
Disease synonyms
colon cancer
CRC
Ortholog Information
Human gene(s) in FlyBase
    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    One to one: 1 human to 1 Drosophila.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    Many to many: multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    Many to many: multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    Many to one: 3 human to 1 Drosophila; additional orthologous human genes are TP63 and TP73.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    Many to many: 2 human to 2 Drosophila. There are two orthologous genes in each species, APC and APC2 in humans, Apc and Apc2 in flies.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    One to one: 1 human to 1 Drosophila.

    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    Many to one (4 human to one Drosophila); the 4 human genes are PIK3CD, PIK3CB, PIK3CG, and PIK3CA.

    Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
      D. melanogaster Gene Information (5)
      Gene Snapshot
      Ras oncogene at 85D (Ras85D) encodes a protein that acts downstream of several cell signals, most notably from Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, to regulate tissue growth and development. When abnormally activated it can direct developmental defects and tissue hyperplasia, mimicking aspects of human disease including Rasopathies and cancer, respectively. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
      Cellular component (GO)
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human genes KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS (many to many; multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species). Dmel\Ras85D shares 78-86% identity and 86-92% similarity with KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS; for these three human genes, Ras85D is the highest-scoring ortholog in Drosophila.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      p53 (p53) encodes a transcriptional factor required for adaptive responses to genotoxic stress, including cell death, compensatory proliferation and DNA repair. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
      Cellular component (GO)
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human genes TP53, TP63 and TP73 (1 Drosophila to many human). Dmel\p53 shares 20-24% identity and 36-41% similarity with the human genes.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      APC-like (Apc) encodes one of two Drosophila APC family proteins. It is a key negative regulator of Wingless signaling, as a critical component of the destruction complex that phosphorylates beta-catenin and thus targets it for ubiquitination and proteasomal destruction. It is the primary family member during CNS and eye development, and functions redundantly with the product of Apc2 in adult development. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-07]
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      Ortholog of human genes APC and APC2 (2 Drosophila to 2 human). Dmel\Apc shares 25-26% identity and 37% similarity with both human genes; it lacks a microtubule-binding domain found at the C terminus of the human APC gene.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) encodes a dual lipid and protein phosphatase that primarily counters the effects of the insulin-regulated lipid kinase, encoded by Pi3K92E. It inhibits cell growth, cell proliferation and cellular events controlling cytoskeletal and junctional rearrangements. [Date last reviewed: 2018-10-18]
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human PTEN (1 Drosophila to 1 human); Dmel\Pten shares 39% identity and 55% similarity with the human gene.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Gene Snapshot
      Medea (Med) encodes a protein that belongs to the highly conserved Smad family. It can bind its siblings encoded by Mad or Smox to facilitate signal transduction for the product of dpp or Activin ligands in the TGF-beta family. Med-complexes function as transcriptional regulators. Many developmental roles include dorsal-ventral patterning, patterning and proliferation of the wing disc and gene expression in the mushroom body of the larval brain. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
      Gene Groups / Pathways
      Comments on ortholog(s)

      High-scoring ortholog of human SMAD4 (1 Drosophila to 1 human); Dmel\Med shares 50% identity and 56% similarity with the human gene.

      Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
      DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
      Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
        Summary of Physical Interactions (241 groups)
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        pull down, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        gtpase assay, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        pull down, western blot, two hybrid
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, two hybrid, pull down
        pull down, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        pull down, covalent binding, western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down, autoradiography, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based, two hybrid array
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down, autoradiography, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, western blot, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based
        anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based
        anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down, autoradiography, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid array, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        enzymatic study, western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting, experimental knowledge based
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography, two hybrid array
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, western blot, coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation
        bimolecular fluorescence complementation, fluorescence microscopy
        pull down, autoradiography
        enzymatic study, western blot
        anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        RNA-RNA
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        fluorescence technology, luminiscence technology
        luminiscence technology
        fluorescence technology, luminiscence technology
        luminiscence technology, fluorescence technology, necessary binding region
        luminiscence technology
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        two hybrid, colocalization, fluorescence microscopy, inferred by author
        pull down, autoradiography, coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, autoradiography
        pull down, anti tag western blot
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, two hybrid
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
        protein-protein
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, two hybrid
        two hybrid, pull down, autoradiography
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, autoradiography, pull down, tag visualisation
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, fluorescent resonance energy transfer, fluorescence microscopy, anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
        RNA-RNA
        Interacting group
        Assay
        References
        luminiscence technology
        Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (72 alleles)
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 17 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Evidence
        References
        model of  cancer
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 19 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        model of  cancer
        is exacerbated by ITPUAS.F
        model of  cancer
        is ameliorated by InRGL00139
        is ameliorated by InRJF01183
        is ameliorated by InRJF01482
        is ameliorated by NetBΔ
        is ameliorated by NetBKK103672
        is ameliorated by unc-5MI04273
        is ameliorated by TimpUAS.cPa
        is ameliorated by JraNIG.2275R
        is ameliorated by bskDN.UAS
        is ameliorated by bskHMS00777
        is exacerbated by hepAct.UAS
        is exacerbated by imdUAS.cGa
        ameliorates  cancer
        model of  kidney cancer
        is ameliorated by Pka-C1B3
        is ameliorated by mTorΔP
        model of  cancer
        is exacerbated by Ptp61FΔ
        is exacerbated by exe1
        is exacerbated by M6W186stop
        is ameliorated by Ptip3804
        is exacerbated by p53UAS.cUa
        is ameliorated by Ilp8MI00727
        is exacerbated by Clbn1Q
        exacerbates  carcinoma
        model of  carcinoma
        is exacerbated by NkapGD11807
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 11 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Evidence
        References
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 15 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 4 )
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 1 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 9 )
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 4 )
        Allele
        Disease
        Interaction
        References
        Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 6 )
        Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 5 )
        Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
        Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
        Sources of Stocks
        Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
        Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
        Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        Selected Drosophila transgenes
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        RNAi constructs available
        Allele
        Transgene
        Publicly Available Stocks
        Selected Drosophila classical alleles
        Allele
        Allele class
        Mutagen
        Publicly Available Stocks
        loss of function allele
        loss of function allele
        P-element activity
        amorphic allele - genetic evidence
        amorphic allele - genetic evidence
        ends-in gene targeting
        amorphic allele - molecular evidence
        Delta2-3 transposase
        amorphic allele - molecular evidence
        Delta2-3 transposase
        ends-in gene targeting
        amorphic allele - molecular evidence
        CRISPR/Cas9
        loss of function allele
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        loss of function allele
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        loss of function allele
        loss of function allele
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        loss of function allele
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        loss of function allele
        loss of function allele
        ethyl methanesulfonate
        loss of function allele
        References (24)