ISSN: 1837-9664Journal of Cancer
Global reach, higher impact
J Cancer 2013; 4(3):227-240. doi:10.7150/jca.5835 This issue Cite
Review
Significance of Infectious Agents in Colorectal Cancer Development
1. Combat Wound Initiative Program, Bethesda, MD, USA.
2. Diagnostics and Translational Research Center, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
3. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
4. Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
5. United States Military Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
6. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
7. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
8. Bon Secours Cancer Institute, Richmond, VA, USA.
9. International Consortium of Research Excellence of the Theodor-Billroth-Academy®.
10. INCORE, International Consortium of Research Excellence of the Theodor-Billroth-Academy, Munich, Germany.
11. Clinic of Abdominal, Endocrine, and Transplantation Surgery, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.
12. University of Novi Sad - Medical Faculty, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major burden to healthcare systems worldwide accounting for approximately one million of new cancer cases worldwide. Even though, CRC mortality has decreased over the last 20 years, it remains the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality, accounting for approximately 600,000 deaths in 2008 worldwide. A multitude of risk factors have been linked to CRC, including hereditary factors, environmental factors and inflammatory syndromes affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, various pathogens were added to the growing list of risk factors for a number of common epithelial cancers, but despite the multitude of correlative studies, only suggestions remain about the possible relationship between selected viruses and bacteria of interest and the CRC risk. United States military service members are exposed to various risk factors impacting the incidence of cancer development. These exposures are often different from that of many sectors of the civilian population. Thereby, cancer risk identification, screening and early detection are imperative for both the military health care beneficiaries and the population as a whole. In this review, we will focus on several pathogens and their potential roles in development of CRC, highlighting the clinical trials evaluating this correlation and provide our personal opinion about the importance of risk reduction, health promotion and disease prevention for military health care beneficiaries.
Keywords: infection, bacteria, virus, infectious agent, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, cancer risk.
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