Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Carcinoma - clinical overviews:

• Colon Cancer: a comprehensive overview - http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic413.htm
• Rectal Cancer: a comprehensive overview - http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1994.htm

Genetics of Colorectal Carcinoma:

• National Cancer Institute: Genetics of Colorectal Carcinoma - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/genetics/colorectal/healthprofessional
• Genetics of Colorectal Carcinoma -  http://www.acor.org/cnet/62863.html

• The Genetics of Colorectal Cancer: Review -  http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/137/7/603.pdf

• The Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome: Genetics and Clinical Implications -  http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/138/7/560.pdf

• Genetic testing for polyposis: practical and ethical aspects: The three autosomal dominant inherited polyposis syndromes, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis, and Peutz-Jeghers polyposis predispose to colorectal cancer as does hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome. Uncovering the genetic background of these four cancer traits provides the possibility for genetic testing of the family members of an affected patient. Before testing identification of the underlying family specific pathogenic mutation is mandatory. This is possible in about 60% to 95% of families. Endoscopic surveillance can be safely discontinued in mutation negative family members and surveillance or prophylactic surgery can be targeted to mutation positive members alone - http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/52/suppl_2/ii19

• IGF2 loss of imprinting: a potential heritable risk factor for colorectal cancer: This study provides support for the novel concept that abnormal insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) imprinting in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) may provide the basis for an epigenetic blood test to screen individuals early in life to identify those who are highly susceptible to developing colorectal cancer (CRC) - http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/PIIS0016508504002987/fulltext

• Hereditary Colorectal Cancer: Review: Patients with a familial risk — those who have two or more first- or second-degree relatives (or both) with colorectal cancer — make up approximately 20 percent of all patients with colorectal cancer, whereas approximately 5 to 10 percent of the total annual burden of colorectal cancer is mendelian in nature — that is, it is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. In this review the authors have focused on the two major forms of hereditary colorectal cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer -  http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/348/10/919

Statistics:

• American Cancer Society: Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer -  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp
• Colorectal cancer for females: Key UK Statistics - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/xsdataset.asp?More=Y&vlnk=3368&All=Y&B2.x=24&B2.y=11
• Colorectal cancer for males: Key UK Statistics - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/xsdataset.asp?More=Y&vlnk=3367&All=Y&B2.x=27&B2.y=5

Screening:

• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Screening for Colorectal Cancer - http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/colorectal/colorr.htm

• National Cancer Institute: Screening for Colorectal Cancer -  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/colorectal/Patient/page3

• Guidance on large bowel surveillance for people with two first degree relatives with colorectal cancer or one first degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer under 45 years -  http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/51/suppl_5/v17

• Guidance on gastrointestinal surveillance for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome -  http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/51/suppl_5/v21

• Current and evolving strategies for colorectal cancer screening: In this study the literature and clinical practice guidelines are reviewed, with an emphasis on advances of the last 10 years and evolving screening methods. The authors note that colonoscopy has come to be used for screening in persons at average risk for colorectal cancer because of the comparative ineffectiveness of other methods, although these methods continue to be recommended. Virtual colonoscopy and fecal DNA testing are emerging technologies with promise to be more effective than fecal occult blood testing or sigmoidoscopy in selecting those persons who should undergo colonoscopy -  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12794617

• Molecular stool screening for colorectal cancer: Mass screening for colorectal cancer reduces mortality. Recent recognition of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and pathophysiological studies of colonic epithelium have enabled tumour markers to be used in the screening setting. Non-invasive molecular stool testing has now been shown to have a high sensitivity and specificity, but larger clinical trials are required - http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/109083289/HTMLSTART

• Recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care - 2001 update: Colorectal Cancer Screening - http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=2894&nbr=002120&string=colonoscopy

Colorectal Cancer - Epidemiology:

• ABC of colorectal cancer: Epidemiology -  http://www.studentbmj.com/back_issues/1200/education/452.html

• Colorectal cancer: Epidemiology -  http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/321/7264/805

Measures:

Investigative work-up for colorectal carcinoma:

• American Cancer Society: Investigative work-up for colorectal carcinoma: an overview -  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_colon_and_rectum_cancer_diagnosed.asp

Colonoscopy:

• Colonoscopy: a comprehensive review -  http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2966.htm

• Virtual Colonoscopy -  http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/virtualcolonoscopy/index.htm

Sigmoidoscopy:

• Sigmoidoscopy -  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003885.htm

Radiological investigations for colorectal carcinoma:

• Radiological investigations for colorectal carcinoma: a comprehensive review -  http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic595.htm

Computed Tomography (CT) Colonography:

• ACR Practice Guideline For The Performance of Computed Tomography (CT) Colonography in Adults -  http://www.acr.org/s_acr/bin.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=22490&CID=547&VID=2&DOC=File.PDF

Computed Tomography (CT) of the Abdomen and Pelvis:

• ACR Practice Guideline for the performance of Computed Tomography (CT) of the Abdomen and Computed Tomography (CT) of the Pelvis - http://www.acr.org/s_acr/bin.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=12200&CID=547&VID=2&DOC=File.PDF

Barium Enema:         

• American College of Radiology: Practice Guideline for the performance of a Barium Enema Examination in Adults - http://www.acr.org/s_acr/bin.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=12186&CID=547&VID=2&DOC=File.PDF·        
• Barium enema: review - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/barium-enema/SA00003·        
• American College of Radiology: Barium Enema Quality Control Manual (1998) - http://www.acr.org/s_acr/sec.asp?TRACKID=&SID=1&VID=1&CID=1280&DID=15121&RTID=0&CIDQS=&Taxonomy=False&specialSearch=False

Faecal Occult Blood Test:

• American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Faecal Occult Blood Test -  http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fecal_occult_blood/test.html

Tumour Markers:

• American Association for Clinical Chemistry: CA 19-9 - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ca19_9/test.html

• American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cea/glance.html

Liver Function Tests:

• American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Liver Function Tests - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/liver_panel/glance.html

Questionnaire:

• Harvard Centre for Cancer Prevention: Questionnaire for Colon Cancer - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=colon·        
• Genetics Questionnaire for Colon and Related Cancers - http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/cancer/colonquestionnaire.cfm·       
• Colorectal Cancer Screening Questionnaire - http://www.ima-md.com/specialties/gastroscreen.html

Document Provenance and History

Document Author: Dr. Fazal Danish

Document Created: 16th March 2006

Document Edits: