Colorectal cancer: Current status of preclinical research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second major cause of cancer-related mortality. The continual search for better comprehension of the molecular processes underlying the onset, progression, and drug resistance of the disease has been very crucial for current therapeutic options and the ones at various stages of development. Current CRC management strategies apply the principle of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, and the decision to use any of these or a combination depends on the specific molecular characteristics of the tumor and individual patient factors. A large portion of the current preclinical research on colorectal cancer is focused on finding novel targets and biomarkers. Preclinical research into CRC make use of several tools, protocols, and models that imitate certain traits of human tumors. Commonly used preclinical models in CRC research include cell line models, patient-derived xenografts, orthotopic xenografts, genetically engineered mouse models, organoid models, and spheroid models. Each model has its peculiar characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses so the choice of preclinical model for a study depends largely on the objectives and the answers being sought from the study. Preclinical studies into CRC show lots of promise and must be pursued along with refinement of the tools used in order to learn more about the disease and discover more effective treatment options.