Colorectal cancer awareness – prevention is the best treatment

Despite the fact that colorectal cancer risk is increased by older age, there has been an uptick of diagnoses of younger patients in recent years [4]. Other risk factors include incidence of colorectal polyps, genetics, unhealthy lifestyle and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

An unhealthy lifestyle can also increase the risk of not only cancer, but many other diseases as well.

Here are some healthier habits we can all practice to make sure our colorectal health is in order [5]:

• Consuming a healthy diet
  • Avoid consuming large amounts of foods and drinks with high fat and sugar content. Opting for foods and drinks that are low in sugar but high in fibre is the healthier option.
  • Avoid consuming large amounts of red meat, including pork, beef, lamb and goat meat.
  • Avoiding heavily salted foods and drinks. The recommendation is to not exceed 5–6 grams of salt per day. 
  • Eating five portions of fruit or (non-starchy) vegetables a day are recommended, as well as adding untreated cereals or pulses to every meal.
• Having a healthy body weight and exercising regularly
• Drinking as little alcohol as possible
• Not smoking, as tobacco is one of the main causes of cancer
• Perhaps most importantly, taking part in early detection programmes
  • Some kinds of cancer can be detected and treated before any symptoms appear.

Precision diagnostics are key to selecting the right therapy at the right time for the right cancer patient.

Gene alterations play a key role during the onset and development of colorectal cancer.⁶ Therefore, reliable assessment of the tumour’s mutational status is decisive not only in selecting cancer patients eligible for targeted therapy, but also later on, to monitor response to treatment and disease progression.

Nowadays, a range of medications targeting tumour-specific genetic alterations are available, and can be prescribed instead of, or in combination with, standard chemotherapies and radiotherapies. To investigate such genetic changes, oncologists can make use of a variety of molecular genetic tests which may support them in making personalised treatment decisions.

Sysmex offers a range of products based on cutting-edge molecular biology technologies supporting heath care professionals and patients along the whole pathway of care.

Molecular tests for therapy selection

With CytoCell FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) probes for MET and EGFR genes, oncologists will get specific information on colorectal cancer prognosis and indication for EGFR-inhibitor medications.⁷

Other critical and currently relevant colorectal cancer genes including KRAS, NRAS, APC, TP53, ERBB2, PTEN and BRAF can be investigated by Next Generation Sequencing tests, with the Sysmex solution in this case being the SureSeq myPanel^TM* NGS Custom Colorectal Cancer Panel.

For further information visit SureSeq myPanel™ NGS Custom Colorectal Cancer Panel website

Liquid biopsy for monitoring

Analysing genetic mutations in biopsied tissue has been the standard in clinical oncology, despite its inconvenience and risks of clinical complications for the patients.⁸ Moreover, biopsies are subject to selection bias due to tumour heterogeneity, can be difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts and the information provided is restricted to a static time point.^9,10 Here, liquid biopsy analysis of mutations in cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) has become a valuable tool for a variety of clinical and investigative applications. The detection of clinically relevant mutations from a simple blood draw enables clinicians to select the most beneficial therapy and monitor the patient’s response to therapy in real time.

* SureSeq^TM myPanel^TM: For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Manufacturer and Trademarks: CytoCell^® FISH Probes (Cytocell Limited), SureSeq^TM myPanelTM (Oxford Gene Technology IP Limited)