Diagnostics, Prognostic, and Predictive Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is underpinned by the accumulation of genetic or epigenetic alterations affecting genes involved in oncogenesis, tumor suppression, DNA mismatch repair and cell signaling pathways. The recognition of these molecular aberrations has contributed significantly to advances in CRC management, one of the best examples being the establishment of KRAS mutations as a negative predictive factor for response to therapies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor. The clinical utility of molecular diagnostics continues to evolve with rapid technological advances such as massively parallel DNA and RNA sequencing. This review examines the current status and ..