Even though the knowledge of the pathogenesis of cancers and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract has greatly increased in recent years, their clinical management remains a challenge. Detailing the clinical potential of new technologies and opportunities that may have a rapid impact on the everyday management of patients, this publication intends to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application. The first three reviews focus on new technologies, namely proteome analysis, DNA methylation and DNA array analysis in the management of GI cancer patients. Subsequent papers describe recent advances in the diagnosis of colon cancer by molecular analysis and the lately unraveled genetic alterations underlying chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon and pancreas. Last but not least, ethical considerations associated with mass screening of GI patients and the role of patients in the development of diagnostic and prognostic studies are discussed.