title: Biological and clinical markers in colorectal cancer: state of the art.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the World's third most common cancer. Its prognosis is closely related to the disease stage at the time of diagnosis. Here we review the role of clinical biomarkers (tissue, serum, and faecal) in the management of CRC. Molecular studies have recently widened the opportunity for testing new possible markers, but actually, only few markers can be recommended for practical use in clinic. In the next future the hope is to have a complete panel of clinical biomarkers to use in every setting of CRC disease, and at the same time: 1) to receive information about prognostic significance by their expression and 2) to be oriented in the choice of the adequate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General and Breast Surgery,University Hospital, Catania, Italy. alecap@unict.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappellani
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Vita
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanghi
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lo Menzo
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacopardo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Canzonieri
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murabito
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berretta
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules