Theranostics in the management of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of hospital cancer morbidity and mortality in the world with more than 1.9 million new cases and almost one million deaths annually based on GLOBOCAN 2022. Although there are improvements in surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the existing treatment regimens are usually restricted by systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and late diagnosis. Such dilemmas will require the invention of more accurate and comprehensive methods of diagnosis and treatment.

The objective of the review is to critically assess the application of theranostics that is, therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in the management of colorectal cancer; more so nanotechnology-based systems, molecular imaging and even targeted therapies.

A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in the publications published starting in January 2020 until May 2025. Articles concerned with nanotechnology-based theranostic systems, molecular imaging modes, and targeted therapy of colorectal cancer were considered. Non-English and non-integrated diagnostic or curative researches were gone.