Recent advances in molecular biology and our understanding of the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) has enabled the more-precise use of innovative targeted therapies for this disease. In particular, large databases to capture and store genomic information on causative genes frequently deregulated in CRC, the use of gene-expression profiling to differentiate the subtypes of CRC into prognostic and predictive groups, and results from next-generation sequencing analyses have led to an appreciation of the extensive intratumour heterogeneity of this disease. The authors highlight these advances, place them into clinical context, and present other novel targets and therapeutic opportunities on the horizon.
- Cornelis J. A. Punt
- Miriam Koopman
- Louis Vermeulen
