Illuminating Colorectal Cancer Genomics by Next-Generation Sequencing: A Big Chapter in the Tale

This book reviews the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in research on and management of colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of death worldwide and one of the most biologically and clinically heterogeneous cancers. It critically discusses findings from recent large-scale studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses and offers an introduction to the management of CRC in the era of precision medicine. In CRC, dozens of driver and passenger mutations are associated with the malignant transformation of epithelial cells. Consequently, the book discusses recent advances in our understanding of the genetics of CRC as a biomarker, the advent of NGS technologies in modern genomics, and the impact of NGS technology on the management of CRC. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of NGS in the context of liquid biopsy and single-cell sequencing in CRC, as well as its role in shedding light on the link between gut microbiota, immune-checkpoint blockade and CRC. The book concludes with a chapter on the limitations and cost-effectiveness of NGS in CRC.

Given its scope, the book will appeal to all those interested in learning about the potential of NGS in advancing CRC research and patient care. 

Khalid El Bairi is the founder of The Cancer Biomarkers Working Group, and he is currently pursuing clinical and translational research in medical oncology. He has published many peer-reviewed articles in the field of predictive and prognostic cancer biomarkers to improve survival outcomes in several WoS and Medline-indexed journals. His research focuses particularly on biomarkers for digestive and gynecological cancers such as ovarian and colorectal malignancies. He is currently a member of the board of various international scientific societies such as the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He is also an editor and reviewer for more than 40 journals including BMC Cancer, PLoS ONE and Frontiers in Oncology and a guest editor for several special issues on gynecological cancers including Seminars in Cancer Biology and Current Drug Targets. He is also highly interested in teaching evidence-based medicine, clinical research methods, and publishing ethics to medical and Ph.D students and was selected for the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting as a young scientist.