RISK FACTORS IN COLORECTAL CANCER-LITERATURE REVIEW. WHY TO KNOW THEM?

Alexandra-Alina Vesa¹, Octavian Maghiar², Laura Maghiar³, Ovidiu Pop¹, Andreea Diana Mudura⁴, Adrian Marius Maghiar^2,5 

¹University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Morphological Sciences Department - ²University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Surgical Sciences Department - ³University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oradea, Preclinical Sciences - ⁴University of Maastricht, Health Professions Education-PhD Student - ⁵Pelican Hospital Oradea, Chief of General Surgery Department

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has recently seen a worrying rise worldwide. According to the latest data provided by GLOBOCAN 2020, the prevalence for the next 3 to 5 years show at least a doubling of cases worldwide. What is the cause of this growing incidence of this pathology? Studies have shown over the years that malignancies located at this level are multifactorial and a number of risk factors are implicated in their pathogenesis, recently paying more and more attention to the genetic involvement. 

Materials and methods: Our main goal for this article was to recapitulate these colorectal cancer risk factors, using the latest and previously provided data, thus obtaining as new and accurate information as possible. We have focused more on genetic risk factors, which are increasingly being mentioned and identified in various cases diagnosed with colorectal cancer. 

Results: We have managed to gather the latest data on the mutational status in this oncological pathology, since the molecular and genetic studies are gaining more and more ground in medical practice.

Conclusion: Why bother in trying to identify these factors? Given the explosion of new cases of colorectal cancer, identifying these risk factors can be of huge benefit to the recognition and inclusion of people in the high risk category for the same purpose, namely that to prevent  is better than to treat.