Colorectal Cancer [Paperback]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent human tumors. Despite tremendous advances in our knowledge about the pathogenesis of the disease, the prognosis remains poor for almost half of the individuals affected. This volume provides an updated and comprehensive description of the most relevant features of colorectal cancer - from molecular biology to prevention, from hereditary syndromes to new treatment modalities. It represents an invaluable source for clinicians who deal with colorectal neoplasms and for all those who wish to increase their knowledge of these malignancies.Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent human tumors. Despite tremendous advances in our knowledge about the pathogenesis of the disease, the prognosis remains poor for almost half of the individuals affected. This volume provides an updated and comprehensive description of the most relevant features of colorectal cancer - from molecular biology to prevention, from hereditary syndromes to new treatment modalities. It represents an invaluable source for clinicians who deal with colorectal neoplasms and for all those who wish to increase their knowledge of these malignancies.1 The Causes of Colorectal Cancer.- Descriptive Epidemiology and Temporal Trends.- The Environment and Colorectal Cancer.- Diet and Micronutrients.- Physical Activity, Obesity and Energy Imbalance.- Hormonal Factors.- Smoking and Alcoholic Beverages.- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.- Drugs.- Colorectal Polyps and the Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence.- Familial and Hereditary Factors.- Familial Colorectal Cancer.- Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer.- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.- Gene-Environment Interactions.- Conclusions.- References.- 2 Pathogenesis of Colorectal Cancer.- Main Causes of Colorectal Cancer.- Pathogenesis of Colorectal Cancer: Different Molecular Pathways for One Disease.- Sporadic Colorectal Cancer Development (Loss of Heterozygosity Pathway).- Tumor Development in FAP and Other Polyposis Syndromeslæ