Research lines of Colorectal cancer

Current lines of colorectal cancer research are divided into 3 groups:

• Immunometabolomic studies, aimed at identifying biomarkers that predict treatment response, resistance and prognosis, to personalise therapy.
• Translational studies on chromosomal instability using liquid biopsies (analysis of tumour genetic material in blood) and tumour tissue analyses.
• Various clinical trials to find new alternatives for patients. 

Liquid biopsy (circulating tumour DNA). A liquid biopsy analyses genetic tumour material found in the patient’s blood (circulating tumour DNA).

Various studies into liquid biopsies are currently underway. Some studies aim to detect which patients can benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (postoperative intention-to-cure chemotherapy). There are also studies designed to monitor changes in the tumour biology observed in metastatic patients to discover whether a patient is resistant to a new therapy and so it needs to be changed.