Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: Current Research and Future Prospects

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2020-07, Vol.21 (15), p.5311
• Main Authors: Ogunwobi, Olorunseun O, Mahmood, Fahad, Akingboye, Akinfemi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer; Chemical compounds; Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Decision making; Deoxyribonucleic acid; diagnosis; Diagnostic systems; DNA; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal growth factor receptors; ErbB Receptors - genetics; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Growth factors; Health services; Humans; Immunotherapy; Kinases; Metastases; Mortality; Mutation; Non-coding RNA; Pharmacology; Plasmacytoma; Prognosis; prognostication; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) - metabolism; PVT1; Radiation therapy; Review; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; RNA, Neoplasm - genetics; RNA, Neoplasm - metabolism; screening; Survival; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155311

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide, despite progress made in detection and management through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Novel therapeutic agents have improved survival in both the adjuvant and advanced disease settings, albeit with an increased risk of toxicity and cost. However, metastatic disease continues to have a poor long-term prognosis and significant challenges remain due to late stage diagnosis and treatment failure. Biomarkers are a key tool in early detection, prognostication, survival, and predicting treatment response. The past three decades have seen advances in genomics and molecular pathology of cancer biomarkers, allowing for greater individualization of therapy with a positive impact on survival outcomes. Clinically useful predictive biomarkers aid clinical decision making, such as the presence of gene mutations predicting benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibiting antibodies. However, few biomarkers have been translated into clinical practice highlighting the need for further investigation. We review a range of protein, DNA and RNA-based biomarkers under investigation for diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic properties for CRC. In particular, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), have been investigated as biomarkers in a range of cancers including colorectal cancer. Specifically, we evaluate the potential role of lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 ( ), an oncogene, as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarker in colorectal cancer.