Perspectives on the treatment of colorectal carcinoma.

Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. With 655000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Advances in imaging, genetics, molecular diagnostics, surgical techniques and chemotherapy are now making significant gains in our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat this serious disease. This article reviews some of these recent successes and shares a vision of future care based on current research.