Review article
Colorectal cancer: An introduction
Antonio Juretić
orcid.org/0000-0002-6379-9708
Abstract
This introductory type of article provides a brief overview of the current clinical status of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC ranks as one of the most prevalent and incident cancers and is also between the deadliest ones worldwide, along with lung and breast cancers. A majority of CRCs are sporadic, with age being the most important risk factor. CRC appears to be a complex, heterogeneous disease that involves multiple signaling pathways and tumors that appear histologically identical may have different prognoses and different responses to treatment. CRC develops through gradual accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes, resulting in the transformation of normal colonic mucosa into invasive cancer. Basically, the treatment for colorectal cancer varies by tumor location, stage at diagnosis and patient’s general condition. Any available data about the genes and/or molecular pathways that regulate activities such as cell growth, death or apoptosis, DNA repair, malignant alteration, etc. should also be taken into consideration. Recent polychemotherapy protocols along with the use of inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways have enhanced the therapeutic responses and potentially also the patient prognoses. The treatment of CRC is expected to become more and more routinely based on identified molecular CRC subtypes and on validated prognostic and predictive biomarkers relatively soon (within several years), which should provide to patients better therapeutic outcomes with less side-effects.
Keywords
colorectal cancer; biomarkers; chemotherapy; targeted therapy; radiotherapy; personalized medicine
Hrčak ID:
139026
URI
Publication date:
14.5.2015.
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