Early-onset colorectal cancer:A review of current knowledge

作     者：Margarida R Saraiva Isadora Rosa Isabel Claro 

作者机构：Department of GastroenterologyInstituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco GentilLisboa 1099-023Portugal 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Gastroenterology》 (世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2023年第29卷第8期

页      面：1289-1303页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100214[医学-肿瘤学] 10[医学] 

主　　题：Colorectal cancer Early-onset Adenocarcinoma Hereditary Birth-cohort effect Risk factors 

摘      要：Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.Although most prevalent among older people,its incidence above 50 years old has been decreasing globally in the last decades,probably as a result of better screening.Paradoxically,its incidence in patients below 50 years old[early-onset CRC(EO-CRC)]has been increasing,for reasons not yet fully understood.EOCRC’s increasing incidence is genre independent but shows racial disparities and has been described to occur worldwide.It follows a birth-cohort effect which probably reflects a change in exposure to CRC risk factors.Its incidence is predicted to double until 2030,which makes EO-CRC a serious public health issue.Both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors have been identified-some are potential targets for preventive measures.EO-CRC is often diagnosed at advanced stages and histological features associated with poor prognosis have been described.EO-CRC presents some distinctive features:Microsatellite instability is common,but another subtype of tumours,both microsatellite and chromosome stable also seems relevant.There are no age-specific treatment protocols and studies on EO-CRC survival rates have shown conflicting data.Due to the higher germline pathological mutations found in EO-CRC patients,an accurate genetic risk evaluation should be performed.In this review,we summarize the current evidence on epidemiological,clinical,histopathological and molecular features of EO-CRC and discuss the contribution of genetics and lifestyle risk factors.We further comment on screening strategies and specific dimensions to consider when dealing with a younger cancer patient.