©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2016; 8(6): 481-488
Published online Jun 15, 2016. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i6.481
Published online Jun 15, 2016. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i6.481
Colorectal cancer in the young, many questions, few answers
Kemal I Deen, Consultant in Colon and Rectal Surgery, The Asiri Surgical Hospital, Colombo 11600, Sri Lanka
Hiroshi Silva, Pramodh C Chandrasinghe, The University of Kelaniya Medical School, Ragama 11600, Sri Lanka
Raeed Deen, The University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to this paper with conception and design, literature review and analysis, drafting and critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.
Correspondence to: Kemal I Deen, MD, MS, FRCS, FACRSI, FNat, Ac Sci, Consultant in Colon and Rectal Surgery, The Asiri Surgical Hospital, No.21 Kirimandala Mawatha, Colombo 11600, Sri Lanka. kemaldeen4@gmail.com
Telephone: +94-777-746158
Received: January 4, 2016
Peer-review started: January 5, 2016
First decision: January 30, 2016
Revised: February 29, 2016
Accepted: March 14, 2016
Article in press: March 16, 2016
Published online: June 15, 2016
Processing time: 148 Days and 16.7 Hours
Peer-review started: January 5, 2016
First decision: January 30, 2016
Revised: February 29, 2016
Accepted: March 14, 2016
Article in press: March 16, 2016
Published online: June 15, 2016
Processing time: 148 Days and 16.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: This review of colorectal cancer in the young focuses on new data that reveal CRC to be more a left sided cancer than previously thought and the predicted rise by the year 2030. The article outlines the genetics of colorectal cancer (CRC) and discusses limitation in current knowledge in establishing a fingerprint for sporadic CRC. Aside from diet in its aetiology, luminal alkalinity and the colonic microbiome may be contributory and require further research. The review discusses the need for increased awareness of CRC in the young and the need for global consensus on screening young people at risk.