Advances in colorectal cancer screening and detection: a narrative review on biomarkers, imaging and preventive strategies.

BACKGROUND

With the third incident rate and a second mortality rate, colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies worldwide. Adenomas usually develop into adenocarcinomas in colorectal cancer (CRC), a process that can be halted by early detection and prevention care.

MAIN BODY

Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and endoscopies are examples of current screening tools that dramatically lower the incidence and death of colorectal cancer. Current development centre on non-invasive methods that provide better accuracy and lower dangers, such as blood-based liquid biopsies and imaging modalities like CT and MR colonography. For early detection, liquid biopsies-especially those using methylated DNA tests like SEPT9-offer encouraging outcomes. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a crucial biomarker, increasing early identification and therapy monitoring. Proteomic and metabolic indicators further improve screening by figuring out who is at high risk and keeping an eye out for recurrence. The accuracy and detection rates of polyps have increased due to advancements in imaging technologies like as artificial intelligence (AI), narrow-band imaging (NBI), and high-definition colonoscopy. The emphasis has been on preventive measures, such as chemoprevention and lifestyle modifications, dietary fibre, regular exercise, and chemoprotective drugs like aspirin have demonstrated potential in lowering the incidence of colorectal cancer. There are still issues with the global implementation of screening, including differences in access to screening between socioeconomic and racial groups. Hope for more individualized and efficient CRC screening and prevention are provided by new research on biomarkers and technological advancements like artificial intelligence and polygenic risk classification.

CONCLUSION

With a variety of invasive and non-invasive techniques available to identify cancer early. With a variety of invasive and non-invasive techniques available to identify cancer early. To enhance prognosis and lower mortality, colorectal cancer screening has undergone tremendous advancement. Although colonoscopy and faecal immunochemical assays (FIT) are still good standards for detecting colorectal cancer (CRC), advances in liquid biopsy, proteomics, and imaging have transformed the field and offered less invasive, more precise choices, for early identification and surveillance, circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and other biomarkers show tremendous potential.

© 2025. The Author(s).