title: A systematic review of clinically available gene expression profiling assays for stage II colorectal cancer: initial steps toward genetic staging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, increasingly accessible and novel genetic technologies have spurred keen interest in the application of cancer genetics in predicting prognosis and response to treatment. In particular, investigators have eagerly sought to establish and validate genetic signatures that might improve the identification of patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) who are at highest risk of recurrence. To better understand the evidence for incorporation of genetic assays into clinical practice, we have systematically reviewed those assays that have been validated and are available for clinical use in stage II CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases. The GRADE system was used to evaluate level of evidence and strength of recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After duplicates were removed and exclusion criteria were applied, there were 13 articles for review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identifying high-risk patients with stage II CRC using molecular profiling has been the primary aim of many investigators, and the approach is translating into clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal, Department of Surgery, UC San Diego Health System, Moores Cancer Center, 3855 Health Sciences Drive #0987, La Jolla, CA 92093-0987, USA.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal, Department of Surgery, UC San Diego Health System, Moores Cancer Center, 3855 Health Sciences Drive #0987, La Jolla, CA 92093-0987, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC San Diego Health System, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fanta
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal, Department of Surgery, UC San Diego Health System, Moores Cancer Center, 3855 Health Sciences Drive #0987, La Jolla, CA 92093-0987, USA. Electronic address: sramamoorthy@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ramamoorthy
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Genetic assays; Genetic expression profiles; Genetic signatures; Stage II