According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 data,
colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed
cancer and the second leading cause of
cancer-related death. The risk factors for
colorectal cancer include a diet abundant with fat, refined
carbohydrates, animal
protein, low fiber content,
alcoholism,
obesity, long-term cigarette smoking, low physical activity, and aging.
Colorectal carcinomas are classified as
adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine, squamous cell, adenosquamous, spindle cell, and
undifferentiated carcinomas. In addition, many variants of
colorectal carcinomas have been recently distinguished based on histological, immunological, and molecular characteristics. Recently developed targeted molecules in conjunction with standard chemotherapeutics or
immune checkpoint inhibitors provide promising treatment protocols for
colorectal cancer. However, the benefit of targeted
therapies is strictly dependent on the mutational status of signaling molecules (e.g., KRAS) or mismatch repair systems. Here it is aimed to provide a comprehensive view of
colorectal cancer types, molecular pathways associated, recently developed targeted
therapies, as well as proteomic investigations applied to
colorectal cancer for the discovery of novel
biomarkers and new targets for treatment protocols.