Clinical applications of DNA methylation biomarkers in colorectal cancer

摘要

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease that results in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. CRC is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and accounts for over 600,000 deaths annually. Biomarkers are molecules or substances found in blood, other bodily fluids or tissues that reflect a particular biological or pathological state. Blood- or stool-based biomarkers have the potential to revolutionize CRC diagnostics by providing noninvasive, patient-friendly and cost-effective early detection of CRC. Cancer biomarkers may have broader applications, including disease risk analysis in otherwise healthy people, molecular classification, therapy response prediction, disease prognostics and recurrence monitoring in patients who have been treated for cancer. In recent years, abnormal patterns of DNA methylation have emerged as candidate cancer biomarkers, Here, we will summarize recent advances in the use of DNA methylation biomarkers in CRC clinical applications.