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Review
. 2022 Mar 29;14(7):1732.
doi: 10.3390/cancers14071732.

Colorectal Cancer: A Review of Carcinogenesis, Global Epidemiology, Current Challenges, Risk Factors, Preventive and Treatment Strategies

Md Sanower Hossain  1   2 , Hidayah Karuniawati  3   4 , Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun  3   5 , Zannat Urbi  6 , Der Jiun Ooi  7 , Akbar John  8 , Ya Chee Lim  9 , K M Kaderi Kibria  10 , A K M Mohiuddin  10 , Long Chiau Ming  9 , Khang Wen Goh  11 , Muhammad Abdul Hadi  12
Affiliations
Review

Colorectal Cancer: A Review of Carcinogenesis, Global Epidemiology, Current Challenges, Risk Factors, Preventive and Treatment Strategies

Md Sanower Hossain et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly cancer. Global incidence and mortality are likely to be increased in the coming decades. Although the deaths associated with CRC are very high in high-income countries, the incidence and fatalities related to CRC are growing in developing countries too. CRC detected early is entirely curable by surgery and subsequent medications. However, the recurrence rate is high, and cancer drug resistance increases the treatment failure rate. Access to early diagnosis and treatment of CRC for survival is somewhat possible in developed countries. However, these facilities are rarely available in developing countries. Highlighting the current status of CRC, its development, risk factors, and management is crucial in creating public awareness. Therefore, in this review, we have comprehensively discussed the current global epidemiology, drug resistance, challenges, risk factors, and preventive and treatment strategies of CRC. Additionally, there is a brief discussion on the CRC development pathways and recommendations for preventing and treating CRC.

Keywords: anus cancer; colon cancer; drug resistance; prevalence; rectum cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Colorectal cancer (CRC) stages and development. There are four stages in the development of CRC carcinogenesis: initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. The liver is the most common metastatic site, followed by the lung and bone. Although it is difficult to determine the duration required for each stage, decades will likely be required to form CRC. The figure was created using BioRender.com (accessed on 30 December 2021).
Figure 2
Figure 2
CRC new cases and deaths in 2020. (a) shows new cases, both sexes and all ages, and (b) shows deaths of both sexes for all age groups. The value shown in % is calculated against the total number of all cancers. The data source is GLOBOCAN [25], taken with permission.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Map showing the global distribution of estimated age-standardized incidence rates (top) and mortality rate (bottom) of CRC in 2020 for both sexes and all ages. (Reproduced from GLOBOCAN [25] with permission).
Figure 4
Figure 4
World CRC incidence and mortality rates in 2020 (according to income level for all age groups). The data were extracted from GLOBOCAN [25] with permission.
Figure 5
Figure 5
World new cases and deaths of colon cancer, rectum cancer, and anus cancer in 2020. (a) New cases and (b) deaths of colon cancer, rectum cancer, and anus cancer. The value is shown in % on top of each column and is calculated against the CRC number in 2020 for both sexes and all ages. Data extracted from GLOBOCAN [25] with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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