Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide. Laterally spreading tumors (LSTs), as special manifestations of digestive tract tumors, are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed due to their unique morphological and pathological features. LST has no protruding lesions and progresses rapidly, and prognoses are consequently poor. LST progression to CRC is complicated. Clinical data indicate that the heart is rarely the site of primary tumorigenesis, and a class of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs) secreted by heart tissue play an important role in this phenomenon, which is closely related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, previous studies focused solely on correlations between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, downstream gene expression and LST. Thus, correlational studies of ANP/ANP receptor, LST and CRC may be of great help in understanding the occurrence, development and treatment of LST, as well as in establishing specific and sensitive methods for detecting LST.