Nutritionally modifiable prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer survivors after diagnosis

Introduction :Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in the Western world. About one million of new CRC cases are diagnosed per year. The survival rate of patients with CRC changes widely, even among patients with the same tumor histology. This is possibly due to the impact of environmental factors on tumor development. The diet is the most important among these factors. It is known that nutrition can modify the risk of CRC. However, the role that nutrition plays in the risk of recurrence or survival in patients with CRC is not known with accuracy. Objetive: The objective of this review was to try to clarify this fact. Material and methods: Collecting the data obtained as of today in the epidemiological studies of association among recurrence, survival or mortality risk of CRC; and vitamins and the body mass index (BMI), to develop a series of nutritional advices to patients. Conclusions: Thanks to the studies discussed in this work, we could conclude that: BMI, retinol and vitamin D, and in some cases folic acid, at the time of disease diagnosis, operate like recurrence and survival prognosis markers in CRC.