Multi-Omics Approaches in Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, Recent Updates and Future Perspectives

Simple Summary Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Due to the absence of specific early symptoms, most of CRC patients are often diagnosed at late stages. Different screening and diagnostic biomarkers are currently used for risk stratification and early detection of CRC, which might prolong the overall survival. High-throughput technologies have witnessed rapid advancements in the last decade. Consequently, the development of multiple omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and lipidomics, has been widely applied to develop novel biomarkers that could contribute to the clinical management of CRC. In this paper, we aim to summarize the recent advances and future perspectives in using multi-omics technologies in CRC research, and reveal the potential implications of multi-omics for discovering novel biomarkers and enhancing clinical evaluations. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common Cancer as well as the third leading cause of mortality around the world; its exact molecular mechanism remains elusive. Although CRC risk is significantly correlated with genetic factors, the pathophysiology of CRC is also influenced by external and internal exposures and their interactions with genetic factors. The field of CRC research has recently benefited from significant advances through Omics technologies for screening biomarkers, including genes, transcripts, proteins, metabolites, microbiome, and lipidome unbiasedly. A promising application of omics technologies could enable new biomarkers to be found for the screening and diagnosis of CRC. Single-omics technologies cannot fully understand the molecular mechanisms of CRC. Therefore, this review article aims to summarize the multi-omics studies of Colorectal cancer, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, microbiomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics that may shed new light on the discovery of novel biomarkers. It can contribute to identifying and validating new CRC biomarkers and better understanding colorectal carcinogenesis. Discovering biomarkers through multi-omics technologies could be difficult but valuable for disease genotyping and phenotyping. That can provide a better knowledge of CRC prognosis, diagnosis, and treatments.

Automated summary

Colorectal cancer is a prevalent and deadly disease worldwide, with its exact molecular mechanisms still unknown. The application of omics technologies in CRC research has significantly advanced, screening biomarkers unbiasedly to better understand the disease. Multi-omics studies could shed light on the discovery of novel biomarkers for CRC prognosis, diagnosis, and treatments.