Molecular predictive and prognostic markers in colon cancer

Colorectal cancer remains one of the major cancer related death despite progress in the cytotoxic treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) over the past decade. The introduction of targeted agents has improved the progression free and overall survival of metastatic disease. However, 40-50% of patients do not experience beneficial effects and it remains a challenge to select patients likely to respond to therapy. Several new molecular predictive and prognostic markers have been identified and are now being translated into routine clinical practice. K-Ras mutation is the first established molecular marker with a lack of response in K-Ras mutated patients treated with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy. The validation of predictive and prognostic markers will result in more successful and less toxic therapeutic regimens for cancer patients. This review aims to summarize the most important currently available predictive and prognostic molecular markers in colorectal cancer. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.