Biomarkers in colorectal cancer: Current clinical utility and future perspectives

Table 1 Examples of biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis, progression, prognosis and treatment

Biomarker		Prognostic factor	Predictive factor
BRAF mutations	Specific phenotype and metastasis; resistance to anti-EGFR mAb	Yes[6,110]	Yes[111], Potentially[6,110]
KRAS mutations	Heterogeneity of CRC; resistance to anti-EGFR mAb	Yes potentially[110]	Yes[6,110,111]
MSI	Resistance to 5-FU	Yes[6,110], No[111]	-
APC mutations	Poorer overall survival	Yes[66]	Yes[65]
Micro-RNA	Early detection of CRC, prognostic stratification and therapy-response prediction	Yes[72]	Yes[73]
PIK3CA mutations	Poor prognosis and particular clinico-pathological characteristics; resistance to anti-EGFR mAb	Yes[82]	Yes[110]
Loss of PTEN	High tendency to develop metastasis; Resistance to anti-EGFR mAb	-	Yes potentially[110,111]
TP53 expression	Poor prognosis	Yes potentially[110], No[111]	-
Loss of NDST4	Adverse prognosis; molecular predictor of metastasis	Yes[95]	Yes[95]
Loss of 18qLOH	Poor prognosis	Yes[111], Potentially[110]	-
IGFR-1R	High levels in metastastic CRC; poor overall survival	Yes[104]	Yes[104]

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines[6]; European Society for Medical Oncology Guidelines[110]; American Society of Clinical Oncology Guidelines[111]. CRC: Colorectal cancer; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; MSI: Microsatellite instability; FU: Fluorouracil.