Science, medicine, and the future: Colorectal Cancer

摘要: Colorectal cancer is the second commonest fatal malignancy in both sexes combined, after lung cancer. The incidence developed and developing countries has increased over past few decades, Britain population lifetime risk of large bowel 1:25. overall five year survival around 40%, but can be as high 70% curative surgery. morbidity associated with disease its treatment considerable. Almost all patients require surgical resection, palliation only realistic hope for substantial proportion who already have disseminated disease. Although outlook poor, considerable financial resources are expended combatting estimated annual cost treating confirmed cases exceeds £200m ($320m). This figure substantially underestimates true it does not include money spent on excluding symptoms. In addition, recent widespread introduction adjuvant chemotherapy will increase costs dramatically. This review highlights advances colorectal research that should result tangible benefits to patient near future. However, pace discovery so rapid applications strategies yet dreamt likely become reality coming decade. Colorectal largely an environmental disease, genetic susceptibility important role. Two highly penetrant autosomal dominant predisposition syndromes, hereditary non-polyposis familial adenomatous polyposis, together account 2-10% Genetic loci also recently been mapped Peutz-Jeghers syndrome a form juvenile polyposis. some aggregation less well defined may multifactorial or polygenic origin perhaps due low penetrance mutations even recessive gene defects. I consider characterised …