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Challenges and Opportunities in Colorectal Cancer

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2025) | Viewed by 1477

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
2. Assuta Medical Center, Gastroenterology Institute, Beer-Sheva, Israel
3. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Interests: endoscopy; colorectal cancer; lynch syndrome; polyps; polyposis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of malignancy-related mortality. The screening, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of CRC are part of the daily practice of general practitioners, gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals. Despite significant advancements and innovations in the field, many challenges remain to be addressed in the future.

Screening for CRC is important for the early diagnosis and to prevent it. However, several important questions remain open or controversial: What is the optimal screening modality? Are there promising new biomarkers? What is the appropriate age to initiate and to stop screening? Opportunistic versus organized screening? What about high-risk individuals, such as those with a family history of CRC, polyposis, or Lynch syndrome? Should universal screening for Lynch syndrome be implemented?

Numerous aspects of CRC still require further investigation. Additional studies are needed to address these critical questions, which will be helpful for clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. This Special Issue will address the different challenges and opportunities during the different phases of prevention, detection, and treatment of CRC.

I invite you to submit papers about this important and interesting topic, particularly studies or reviews about the different aspects of CRC, from screening to survival.

Dr. Naim Abu-Freha
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • colorectal cancer
  • screening
  • staging
  • treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC)
  • high-risk patients
  • fecal occult testing
  • colonoscopy
  • lynch syndrome

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 850 KB  
Article
A Clinicopathologic, Molecular, and Prognostic Comparison Between Early- and Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer in Korea: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
by Sung Bin Park, Hoon Sup Koo, Dae Sung Kim, Jieun Ryu, Jieun Shin, Jun Suk Oh and Kyu Chan Huh
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(5), 1736; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15051736 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 469
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), diagnosed before age 50, is increasing worldwide; however, comparative data between patients with EO-CRC and late-onset colorectal cancer (LO-CRC) in Asian populations remain limited. We compared the clinicopathological, molecular, and prognostic characteristics of EO-CRC [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), diagnosed before age 50, is increasing worldwide; however, comparative data between patients with EO-CRC and late-onset colorectal cancer (LO-CRC) in Asian populations remain limited. We compared the clinicopathological, molecular, and prognostic characteristics of EO-CRC and LO-CRC in a tertiary-center cohort. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma treated at a single tertiary referral center between January 2011 and December 2024. Patients were classified as having EO-CRC (<50 years) or LO-CRC (≥50 years). Demographic and lifestyle factors, clinicopathological characteristics, laboratory findings including blood tests and tumor markers, and molecular profiles such as microsatellite instability (MSI) status and selected gene mutations were compared. Overall survival and associated prognostic factors were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Results: Among 1383 patients, 104 had EO-CRC and 1279 had LO-CRC. Patients with EO-CRC reported smoking and alcohol consumption more frequently, had fewer comorbidities, and showed a higher prevalence of distal tumors, particularly rectal cancer, with a lower T stage. Nodal and distant metastatic stages were comparable between the groups, with no difference in the proportion of stage IV disease. Laboratory parameters, tumor marker levels, MSI status, and other available molecular markers were not significantly different. Overall survival did not differ significantly between EO-CRC and LO-CRC. Conclusions: EO-CRC exhibited distinct clinical features; however, molecular characteristics and survival outcomes were similar to those of LO-CRC. Prognosis is primarily determined by disease stage rather than the age at diagnosis, supporting the importance of early detection strategies in high-risk populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Opportunities in Colorectal Cancer)
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12 pages, 362 KB  
Article
Second Primary Malignancies in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: The Frequency, Types, and Timeline
by Zlata Lerner, Sarah Weissmann, Heba Abu-Kaf, Ali Abu-Juma, Barah Abu Gnim and Naim Abu-Freha
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(3), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15031053 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the frequency, types, and timelines of other cancers in patients diagnosed with CRC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CRC between 1999 and 2023 were retrospectively included. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the frequency, types, and timelines of other cancers in patients diagnosed with CRC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CRC between 1999 and 2023 were retrospectively included. We collected data on the demographics and diagnosis of any additional cancer, either prior to or following the CRC diagnosis. Data were retrieved from the Clalit database using the MDClone platform. Results: A total of 65,774 CRC patients were identified between 1999 and 2023. A second primary malignancy (SPM) was diagnosed in 13,679 patients (21%). Being female, smoking, and having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more frequent among patients with a SPM. Breast, prostate, and lung cancers were the most prevalent SPMs. The risk of developing SPM was highest during the first three years after CRC diagnosis, especially with respect to lung cancer, whereas the majority of breast and prostate cancers were diagnosed during the three years before CRC; the cumulative standardized incidence ratio was calculated to be 4.1 for any cancer. Conclusions: CRC patients have an increased second primary cancer. Patients diagnosed with CRC should be encouraged to undergo screening for other cancers, and those with Lynch-related cancers should be investigated for the syndrome. Patients with a diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer should be considered for colonoscopy screening. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Opportunities in Colorectal Cancer)
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