Colon and Rectal Cancer

In the United States, colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and in women. It is estimated that in 2009 there will be more than 106,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States.

Several widely accepted risk factors you cannot change include age (more than 90 percent of people are diagnosed after age 50); colorectal polyps; a family and personal history of colorectal cancer; hereditary conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis colon cancer and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer; a personal history of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers; and a personal history of bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). Risk factors that can be changed include obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, a diet high in red or processed meats, and not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Beginning at age 50, men and women who are at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should begin screening. People who are at higher-than-average risk of colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor about whether to have screening tests before age 50, which tests to have, the benefits and risks of each test, and how often they should be screened.

Tests used to screen for colorectal cancer include a physical examination, review of the patient’s medical history, fecal occult blood test, digital rectal exam, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and biopsy. The patient's doctor will decide which of these screening tests is best to use.

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

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's Center for Cancer Research (CCR) 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 primary eligibility, study outline, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly.