Lynch syndrome increases risk of various cancers, especially colorectal cancer. Affects 1 in 279 individuals in the United States. Women have higher overall cancer risk due to reproductive system cancers. Cancer typically occurs in forties or fifties. May have noncancerous colon polyps occurring at younger age
Cetuximab (Erbitux) is an EGFR inhibitor for metastatic colorectal and head/neck cancer. Approved in US in 2004, EU in 2009 for specific cancer types. Given intravenously, costs up to $30,000 for eight weeks
CA 19-9 test measures protein levels in blood for cancer diagnosis. Test primarily used for pancreatic, colorectal, and gastric cancers. Elevated levels indicate cancer presence or monitor treatment response
Aflibercept is a recombinant protein combining VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and IgG1 domains. Acts as a decoy receptor for VEGF-A and PIGF ligands. Prevents ligand binding to endothelial receptors to suppress neovascularization
MEK inhibitors block mitogen-activated protein kinase enzymes MEK1 and MEK2. They target overactive MAPK/ERK pathway in some cancers. Particularly effective in BRAF-mutated melanoma and KRAS/BRAF mutated colorectal cancer
Most common in distal colon (68.4%). Mean age of 62 years, male:female ratio 1.6:1. Most cases asymptomatic, some present with rectal bleeding