These advances are leading to the development of more effective strategies for preventing the disease, more refined technologies for detection and diagnosis, and new therapies to extend survival and improve quality of life.
Colorectal cancer remains the third most common cancer in incidence and mortality for men and women.
Although these rates have decreased in recent years, this is not true for all populations and colorectal cancer places a substantial burden of disease on people in this country. This group which first convened late in 1999, identified scientific opportunities and needs for the field of colorectal cancer research and developed a set of research priorities to expedite progress against the disease. In addition to the Progress Review Groups the NCI has solicited recommendations from other working groups focused on important areas of cancer research to assist the Institute in its strategic planning process. Through this planning process, the NCI has implemented a number of initiatives that are meant to strengthen the nation's cancer research infrastructure. The initiatives are not, for the most part, disease-specific, but address problems and opportunities common to all tumors and emphasize the development of technologies and approaches applicable to many cancers.