Colorectal Cancer: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Molecular Basis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with a major worldwide burden. It is the fourth most frequently diagnosed malignancy in both sexes with almost 1 million people developing CRC annually. CRC is the third most common cause of cancer death in the world, responsible for 630,000 deaths annually. In the United States, CRC is the third most common cancer in men and women and the second most common cause of cancer death overall. CRC accounts for 11% of cancers diagnosed. It is estimated that 147,000 cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2004 and that there will be 57,000 deaths from the disease.