title: Molecular markers in prognosis of colorectal cancer and prediction of response to treatment.
abstract: Colorectal cancer is the third most common human malignancy. Direct observation and biopsy sampling by colonoscopy have provided unique opportunities to study the natural history of the disease. As a consequence, advances in the understanding of colorectal cancer pathogenesis have evolved more rapidly than with most other solid tumours. Numerous molecular events arising during the development of colorectal cancer have been sorted out over the past two decades. Despite these advances, predicting outcome and response to therapy is still a major challenge in the management of patients with colorectal cancer. Molecular and biochemical markers of colorectal cancer are greatly needed for diagnosis and prognosis as well as for the selection and monitoring of treatments. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a critical assessment of the usefulness of markers in the prognosis and prediction of response to treatment in colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL-60611, USA.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pasche
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: Al B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009857:Oncogenes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor