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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
E-cadherin: A potential biomarker of colorectal cancer prognosis
Niki Christou1,2, Aurélie Perraud1,2, Sabrina Blondy1
1Cellular Homeostasis and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, GEIST Institute, University of Limoges, F-87025 Limoges, France.
Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and lethal disease. It is the third most common type of cancer in the world, behind lung and breast cancer, with almost 1.4 million new cases diagnosed in 2012. The risk of developing CRC is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Adenocarcinomas comprise the vast majority (98%) of CRCs. A patient's likelihood of survival is associated with the tumor stage at the time of diagnosis. With regular screening, CRC can be identified early, when treatment is the most effective. However, CRC is typically asymptomatic until the advanced stages. The combination of the absence of symptoms and current screening methodology results in a significant number of patients being diagnosed in advanced stages. The purpose of the present review is to discuss and summarize the biomarkers linked to CRC progression, particularly the controversial E-cadherin, which is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule involved in the mesenchymal-epithelial transition.
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