CRC management: Emerging trends in early detection, diagnosis, biomarkers, treatment, and prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern, including in Saudi Arabia, where its incidence has increased in recent years. It contributes substantially to cancer-related morbidity and mortality, both regionally and worldwide. Recent advancements in genetic and epigenomic data, along with the use of biomarkers, have enhanced the potential for early diagnosis, effective treatment, and monitoring of CRC. Biomarkers are essential for precise medicine because they provide quantitative evidence of disease attributes and facilitate the formulation of treatment plans. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, advanced biomarker analysis has become more effective, further expanding the capabilities of precision medicine. However, the effects of novel biomarkers on mortality and treatment effectiveness remain inconclusive, largely because of insufficient data from large-scale clinical studies. The use of precision medicine in clinical practice presents several challenges, including regulatory hurdles, high implementation costs, and the complexity of integrating large-scale genomic data into routine health care systems. Considering these challenges, the use of biomarkers in precision medicine has demonstrated encouraging findings, enabling specific therapy and improving patient outcomes.