Prospective Dutch colorectal cancer cohort: an infrastructure for long-term observational, prognostic, predictive and (randomized) intervention research. (2025)

FAQs

What is the prospective Dutch colorectal cancer cohort? ›

Since 2013, the Prospective Dutch Colorectal Cancer (PLCRC) cohort collects extensive longitudinal clinical data, together with blood, (tumor) tissue, and repeated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with stage I to IV CRC that are prospectively followed from primary diagnosis until death¹³.

The FDA approved a new cancer treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer. Fruzaqla (fruquintinib), a targeted therapy known as an anti-VEGF treatment, works by blocking the blood supply to a tumor.

You may get chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors so they're easier to remove. Chemo is sometimes given after surgery to destroy any cancer cells left behind. You might get only chemo if you can't have surgery. There are several kinds of chemo drugs used to treat stage IV colon cancer.

Colonoscopy is the most widely used diagnostic test to study the colon. It has the highest sensitivity of all tests. Doctors can examine 90 percent to 95 percent of the colon during most colonoscopies. Prior to the procedure, your colon must be clear of stool so that your doctor has good visibility.

CEA is the most commonly used tumor marker for colon cancer and should be measured at baseline. High CEA levels correlate with poor prognosis, and the CEA levels after treatment are useful in detecting disease recurrence.

Stage. Stage is the most important prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. The lower the stage at diagnosis, the better the outcome.

Treatment of stage IV colon cancer is mostly palliative and its median survival is reported to be approximately 9 months with best supportive care.

By the time the cancer has advanced to stage 4 (metastasized), a number of symptoms may occur depending on where in the body the cancer has spread. However, not everyone will experience symptoms – or the same set of symptoms – as every patient's experience is unique.

Stage IV colon cancer has a relative 5-year survival rate of about 14%. This means that about 14% of people with stage IV colon cancer are likely to still be alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. But you're not a number. No one, including your doctor, can tell you exactly how long you'll live.

Colon cancer, or cancer that begins in the lower part of the digestive tract, usually forms from a collection of benign (noncancerous) cells called an adenomatous polyp. Most of these polyps will not become malignant (cancerous), but some can slowly turn into cancer over the course of about 10-15 years.

What are the first signs of having colon cancer? ›

Amsterdam criteria I (classic ICG–HNPCC criteria)

There should be at least 3 relatives with colorectal cancer (CRC), and all the following criteria should be present ⁵: 1 should be a first-degree relative of the other 2. at least 2 successive generations should be affected.

Colorectal cancer rates

Denmark had the highest overall rate of colorectal cancer in 2022, followed by Norway.

 Of all participants, 0.16% were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 1.00% with an advanced adenoma. The detection rate for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas was thus 1.16%.  The detection rate for colorectal cancer was higher for men (0.18%) than for women (0.13%).

CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) which promotes hypermethylation in promoter associated CpG-rich regions of tumor suppressor genes which are inactivated by transcription, leading to development and progression of CRC (6).