A Review of Genes, Markers, and Methods in Predicting Colon Cancer Recurrence

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. Surgery is the most effective colorectal cancer treatment. However, cancer recurrence occurs in 30 to 40% of patients after surgery. The aim of recent studies is the diagnosis of cancer recurrence in the shortest time possible, during the asymptomatic stage, because the possibility of successful cancer treatment could be increased at this stage. Advances in molecular biology have led to the introduction of tumor biomarkers and personalization of risk assessment for the cancer patients. The aim of this review article is to collect the information about current methods for predicting the recurrence of colorectal cancer. Methods for predicting cancer recurrence include: level of carcinoembryonic antigen, microsatellite instability, expression level ofcolon cancer metastasis-associated gene-1, Plastin-3, Retinoic acid induced-3, MicroRNA-29c, colorectal cancer stem cell markers, Oncotype DX Colon Cancer Assay, Coloprint®, molecular relapse prediction tools, concurrent methylation in NEUROG1 and CDKN2A (p16), S100A2 and S100A10 gene expression, and employing quick, simple, and reliable diagnostic tests. It is also noteworthy that defects in MMR pathway affect the recurrence of colorectal cancer. By collecting this information, we hope to have played a role in finding an effective method for early prediction of colorectal cancer recurrence, and therefore on its treatment outcome.