title: Priorities in colorectal cancer research: recommendations from the Gastrointestinal Scientific Leadership Council of the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups.
abstract: Emerging technologies have greatly expanded our ability to detect, characterize, and treat colorectal cancer. The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups convened a multidisciplinary panel, the Scientific Leadership Council in GI cancer, to discuss and advise on the priorities and opportunities to advance current and future approaches into the clinical arena to impact most rapidly the morbidity and mortality from this disease. The Council's recommendations for research priorities are the result of engagement of community and academic oncologists, patient advocacy groups, and other stakeholders including the pharmaceutical industry and governmental agencies. We detail some key prospects for investigation in the areas of colon cancer detection, prevention, and surgical and medical management. Many are in early or definitive clinical trials, and a focus on rapid accrual is urged. The implementation of biology-directed laboratory investigations, both in association with ongoing clinical trials and as a separate developmental strategy for targeted therapies, is supported as the route to individualized therapy.
authors.affiliation: Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, Philadelphia, PA, USA. peter.odwyer@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.forename: S Gail
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Eckhardt
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahnen
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Al B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Mace
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Heinz-Joseph
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diasio
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DuBois
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: C Daniel
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Comis
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011788:Quality of Life