Slides last updated: March 2015

CRC: RISK FACTORS

Lifestyle-related risk factors in CRC1,2

• Diets that are high in red meats and processed meats

-Conversely, diets that are high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of CRC

• Physical inactivity

• Obesity/high body mass index

• Long-term smoking

• Heavy use of alcohol

1. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Detailed Guide, 2014. Available online from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003096-pdf.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines on Colon Cancer. Version 2.2015. Available online from http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/colon.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.

Personal and family history-related risk factors in CRC1,2

• Personal history of CRC or adenomas

• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease

• Family history of CRC or adenomas

- Screening for CRC before the age of 50 may be an option

• Inherited syndromes

- 5-10% of CRC patients have inherited gene mutations

- Includes familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC, or Lynch syndrome), Turcot syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and MUTYH-associated polyposis

1. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Detailed Guide, 2014. Available online from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003096-pdf.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines on Colon Cancer. Version 2.2015. Available online from http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/colon.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.

3. Migliore L, et al. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011;Article ID 792362.

The majority of CRC cases are

sporadic; only 25% of CRC cases have

a family history3

Other risk factors in CRC1,2

• Age - 90% of people diagnosed with CRC are ≥50 years old

• Type 2 diabetes

• Metabolic syndrome

- Combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity

• Certain racial and ethnic backgrounds

- African-Americans have the highest CRC rates in the US

- Ashkenazi Jews (of Eastern European descent) have one of the highest CRC risks of any ethnic group in the world; several gene mutations associated with CRC risk have been found within this group

1. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Detailed Guide, 2014. Available online from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003096-pdf.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines on Colon Cancer. Version 2.2015. Available online from http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/colon.pdf, last accessed on 17/03/2015.