Colon and Rectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in both men and women 50 years of age and older. It is estimated that in 2008, there will be 108,070 new cases of colon cancer and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States. Several widely accepted risk factors include family and or personal history of colon or rectal cancer, personal history of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers, personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, and hereditary conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. Other risk factors associated with the disease are obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, diet high in red or processed meats, and insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables. Individuals at risk of developing colon or rectal cancers (colorectal cancer) should begin screening for the disease at the age of 50. Common screening techniques include physical examination and review of medical history, fecal occult blood test, digital rectal exams, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and biopsies.

Treatment options for colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer may vary depending on the stage of the disease, whether the cancer is newly diagnosed or recurrent, and other medical conditions, and should be discussed with the patient's physician.

Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trials

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI's largest division doing research on campus, conducts colorectal clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. NCI accepts referrals to colorectal clinical trials conducted in Bethesda, Md., through its Clinical Trials Referral Office (formerly called the Clinical Studies Support Center) at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937).

NCI is currently conducting the following trials for patients with colon and rectal cancer. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of eligibility criteria, treatment plan, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly.