Colorectal Cancer

Each type of cancer has its own research, treatments and resources devoted to them. This page gives an overview of Colorectal Cancer and for your convenience we have included the most recent news stories concerning Colorectal Cancer. Be sure to check out our listings page for links to more information.

Colorectal Cancer
Cancer of the large bowel is rare in the pediatric age group: 1 person per 1 million younger than 20 years in the United States annually. These tumors can occur anywhere in the colon or rectum and are often associated with a family cancer syndrome. There is an increasing risk of colorectal cancer in members of families with a family history of intestinal polyps, which can lead to the development of multiple adenomatous polyps (benign tumors). Juvenile polyps are not associated with an increased incidence or risk of cancer.

Colorectal cancer usually presents with symptoms related to the site of the tumor. Changes in bowel habits are associated with tumors of the rectum or lower colon. Tumors of the right colon may cause more subtle symptoms but are often associated with an abdominal mass, weight loss, decreased appetite, and blood in the stool. Any tumor that causes complete obstruction of the large bowel can cause bowel perforation and spread of the tumor cells within the abdominal cavity.

Colorectal carcinoma is rarely diagnosed in a pediatric patient; however, vague gastrointestinal symptoms should alert the physician to investigate this possibility. Most patients present with evidence of metastatic disease (cancer that has spread to other body parts), either as gross tumor or as microscopic deposits in lymph nodes, on the surface of the bowel, or other organs within the abdomen. Complete surgical removal should be the primary aim of the surgeon, but in most instances, this is impossible; removal of large portions of tumor provides little benefit for the individuals with extensive metastatic disease. Most patients with microscopic metastatic disease generally develop gross metastatic disease, and few individuals with metastatic disease at diagnosis become long-term survivors.

Current therapy includes the use of radiation therapy for rectal and lower colon tumors, in conjunction with chemotherapy.

 

Colorectal Cancer in the News...

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 SGH to target hereditary colorectal cancer (Channel NewsAsia via Yahoo! Singa...
SINGAPORE: Medical surveys show that one in 50 people could fall prey to colorectal cancer.

 Turned-off Cannabinoid Receptor Turns On Colorectal Tumor Growth (Science Daily)
New preclinical research shows that cannabinoid cell surface receptor CB1 plays a tumor-suppressing role in human colorectal cancer, scientists report in the Aug. 1 edition of the journal Cancer Research.

 Turned-off Cannabinoid Receptor Turns On Colorectal Tumor Growth - CB1 Suppre...
New preclinical research shows that cannabinoid cell surface receptor CB1 plays a tumor-suppressing role in human colorectal cancer, scientists report in the Aug. 1 edition of the journal Cancer Research. CB1 is well-established for relieving pain and nausea, elevating mood and stimulating appetite by serving as a docking station for the cannabinoid group of signaling molecules.

 Cannabinoid cell surface receptor plays a tumor-suppressing role in human col...
CB1 is well-established for relieving pain and nausea, elevating mood and stimulating appetite by serving as a docking station for the cannabinoid group of signaling molecules. It now may serve as a new path for cancer prevention or treatment.

 Cannabinoid receptor suppress tumour growth in colorectal cancer (New Kerala)
Washington, Aug 1 : A new study from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Centre has shown that the cannabinoid cell surface receptor CB1 plays a key role in suppressing tumour growth in colorectal cancer patients.

 Easier colon cancer test may be over-the-counter (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
If you're over 50 or have a family history of colon cancer, you've probably already heard the nagging about why you should get a colonoscopy. You've probably heard that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States.

 Cannabis-Linked Cell Receptor Might Help Prevent Colon Cancer (HealthDay via ...
FRIDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A cannabinoid receptor lying on the surface of cells may help suppress colorectal cancer, say U.S. researchers. When the receptor is turned off, tumor growth is switched on.

 Patients With Colon Cancer Who Have A Family History Of Colorectal Cancer Hav...
Patients with stage III colon cancer who have a family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative have a lower risk of recurrence and death than those without, according to a major study looking at the link between inherited colorectal cancer and survival.

 Diagnocure announces the formation of a new Strategic Advisory Board (CNW Gro...
DiagnoCure Inc. , a life sciences company commercializing high-value cancer diagnostic tests and delivering laboratory services, announced today that four prominent colorectal cancer key opinion leaders have agreed to serve on the Strategic Advisory Board of its wholly owned subsidiary, DiagnoCure Oncology Laboratories.

 ImClone calls Bristol-Myers offer too low (International Herald Tribune)
ImClone also said it was considering splitting the company in two, separating its Erbitux cancer treatment and its drug-development pipeline businesses.