A PRS FOR COLON CANCER

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Colon cancer, a significant global health concern, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Its early detection is crucial as the survival rates are considerably higher when diagnosed at an early stage. Effective prevention and personalized risk assessment can play a key role in reducing the incidence and mortality of colon cancer. 

Colon cancer arises from a complex interplay of genetic and non-genetic factors. This multifactorial nature underlines the necessity of comprehensive risk assessment tools. Understanding these diverse factors is critical for developing effective screening and prevention strategies. 

Lifestyle and environmental factors significantly contribute to the risk of colon cancer. Diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are among the most critical non-genetic risk factors. These modifiable factors offer potential targets for intervention and prevention strategies. 

In addition to lifestyle factors, genetic predisposition plays a crucial role in colon cancer risk. Classically, certain monogenic factors like mutations in the APC and MLH1 genes have been associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. However, recent studies highlight the importance of polygenic factors, involving multiple genes each contributing a small but significant amount to the overall risk. 

The PRS integration into colon cancer risk assessment offers a more nuanced approach to identifying individuals at higher risk. A study by Briggs et al. (2022) showed that combining PRS with the QCancer-10 prediction model improves risk prediction over QCancer-10 alone (Briggs et al., 2022). Additionally, a pan-cancer analysis by Kachuri et al. (2020) demonstrated that incorporating PRS with modifiable risk factors enhances risk prediction accuracy for most cancers, including colon cancer, showing the potential of PRS in improving cancer risk assessment (Kachuri et al., 2020). 

The use of polygenic risk scores in colon cancer risk assessment can lead to more personalized and effective screening strategies. This approach not only enhances the understanding of individual risk but also opens avenues for targeted interventions, potentially improving patient outcomes in colon cancer.