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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2014; 20(29): 9759-9774
Published online Aug 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i29.9759
Specific metabolic biomarkers as risk and prognostic factors in colorectal cancer
Małgorzata Muc-Wierzgoń, Ewa Nowakowska-Zajdel, Sylwia Dzięgielewska-Gęsiak, Teresa Kokot, Katarzyna Klakla, Edyta Fatyga, Elżbieta Grochowska-Niedworok, Dariusz Waniczek, Janusz Wierzgoń
Małgorzata Muc-Wierzgoń, Ewa Nowakowska-Zajdel, Sylwia Dzięgielewska-Gęsiak, Teresa Kokot, Katarzyna Klakla, Edyta Fatyga, Department of Internal Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Elżbieta Grochowska-Niedworok, Department of Human Nutrition, Medical University of Silesia, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Dariusz Waniczek, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, 41-902 Bytom, Poland
Janusz Wierzgoń, Department of Oncological and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Oncology Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Institute in Warsaw, Branche Gliwice, 41-121 Gliwice, Poland
Author contributions: Both authors substantially contributed to the article and approved the final version to be published.
Correspondence to: Małgorzata Muc-Wierzgoń, Professor, Department of Internal Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, st. Żeromskiego 7, 41-902 Bytom, Poland. mwierzgon@sum.edu.pl
Telephone: +48-32-2812122 Fax: +48-32-2812122
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: January 20, 2014
Accepted: April 21, 2014
Published online: August 7, 2014
Processing time: 313 Days and 6.5 Hours
Abstract

Advances in genomics, molecular pathology and metabolism have generated many candidate biomarkers of colorectal cancer with potential clinical value. Epidemiological and biological studies suggest a role for adiposity, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinemia, altered glucose homeostasis, and elevated expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis members in the risk and prognosis of cancer. This review discusses some recent past and current approaches being taken by researches in obesity and metabolic disorders. The authors describe three main systems as the most studied metabolic candidates of carcinogenesis: dyslipidemias, adipokines and insulin/IGF axis. However, each of these components is unsuccessful in defining the diseases risk and progression, while their co-occurrence increases cancer incidence and mortality in both men and women.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Metabolic biomarkers; Risk; Prognosis; Dyslipidemias; Adipokines; Insulin-like growth factor-system

Core tip: We describe the metabolic candidates of colorectal cancer: Dyslipidemias, adipokines and insulin/insulin-like growth factor axis as a potential risk and prognostic biomarkers.