Molecular markers of prognosis and therapeutic targets in metastatic colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT: Metastatic disease ultimately occurs in approximately 50-70% of patients presenting with colorectal cancer. In patients with advanced disease, there is significant variability in individual patient outcomes. To improve understanding of tumor behavior, markers such as KRAS and BRAF mutation status are increasingly utilized. Additionally, newer surrogates of tumor biology, such as telomerase activity and the prevalence of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA, have generated increasing interest due to clinical potential. While the extent to which these newer markers can predict outcome and guide therapy is yet to be determined, KRAS mutation status is currently used to guide systemic therapy in selected patients. Furthermore, advances in our understanding of various tumorigenic p

SUBMITTER: Ronnekleiv-Kelly SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5152574 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature