Epidemiology, Microbiome, and Risk Factors Involved in Carcinogenesis of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the fourth commonest cancer in the world. While globally rates are still increasing further, in select countries, the rates are conversely decreasing from very high levels. Colorectal cancer has acted as the paradigm for cancer genomics resulting in many early detection strategies, as well as endoscopic interventions to remove small lesions before they become invasive. There is also another revolution in the understanding of the dysbiosis, necessary and in some cases sufficient, to cause disease including cancer. Therefore, the vast majority of colorectal cancers can be prevented by diet, pre and probiotic use, endoscopic use, as well as chemoprevention agents like aspirin, in select groups.