Colorectal cancer

Evelien Dekker, Pieter J. Tanis, Jasper L.A. Vleugels, Pashtoon M. Kasi, Michael B. Wallace

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

443 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several decades ago, colorectal cancer was infrequently diagnosed. Nowadays, it is the world's fourth most deadly cancer with almost 900 000 deaths annually. Besides an ageing population and dietary habits of high-income countries, unfavourable risk factors such as obesity, lack of physical exercise, and smoking increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Advancements in pathophysiological understanding have increased the array of treatment options for local and advanced disease leading to individual treatment plans. Treatments include endoscopic and surgical local excision, downstaging preoperative radiotherapy and systemic therapy, extensive surgery for locoregional and metastatic disease, local ablative therapies for metastases, and palliative chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Although these new treatment options have doubled overall survival for advanced disease to 3 years, survival is still best for those with non-metastasised disease. As the disease only becomes symptomatic at an advanced stage, worldwide organised screening programmes are being implemented, which aim to increase early detection and reduce morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1467-1480
Number of pages14
JournalThe Lancet
Volume394
Issue number10207
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 19 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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