ABSTRACT
Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy in the United States. There are approximately 149,000 new cases diagnosed annually, and about 50,000 people die of this disease each year. Colorectal cancer accounts for about 9% of cancer-related deaths, making it the second most common cancer-related death in the United States. Several factors contribute to an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, including genetic and environmental factors. Although genetic factors will result in a signicant risk increase, most cases of colorectal cancer are sporadic with no family history of the disease. Numerous other factors have also been associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer including inammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance, cholecystectomy, excessive alcohol intake, a history of smoking, a history of pelvic radiation, ureterocolic anastomosis, acromegaly, and prior treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additionally, there are positive associations between colorectal cancer and human immunodeciency virus as well as coronary artery disease; less clear associations exist between colorectal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus or breast cancer 1 gene (BRCA1) status.
