Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colon Cancer: A Review

Abstract

Extensive and long-standing colitis due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is associated with an increased incidence of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy with biopsies for mucosal dysplasia can help stratify those patients who are at increased risk. However, the effectiveness of surveillance programs has been questioned. Newer molecular techniques may eventually lead to the development of more accurate screening tools, but at this time there is not enough evidence to support their widespread use.

Surgery of Colon Cancer

“…Two clear independent risk factors for the development of colon cancer are duration and extent of the colitis (21,22). For ulcerative colitis, the risk of developing carcinoma is estimated to be 1-2% per annum for each year after the first decade of disease (23)(24)(25).…”

Integrin antagonists

“…Potential diseases that might benefit from such therapies include IBD (i.e. ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease); a treatment for ulcerative colitis is particularly desirable since this disorder greatly increases the risk of colon cancer [80]. In addition, h4i7 antagonists could be useful for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.…”

Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer is Frequently Associated with the Microsatellite Instability Pathway

“…The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of colonic carcinogenesis may provide a reliable molecular marker predicting the probability of future malignancy. 4,11 In this study, genetic alterations of the epithelium in UC were investigated to clarify the molecular mechanism for the carcinogenesis of UC-ACRC.…”