Gestational colorectal cancer: Mechanisms, treatments, and prognosis

Although colorectal cancer (CRC) in pregnancy is extremely rare, occurring in only 0.002% of women during pregnancy, the risk of that is progressively increasing as the incidence of early-stage CRC rises and the age of pregnancy is delayed. Any indicator of change during pregnancy could be responsible for accelerating the development of cancer. The contradiction between the survival demands of the fetus and maternal energy expenditure makes gestational colorectal cancer (GCRC) not only a medical but also a complex social issue with strong emotional and moral conflicts. This means that physicians, surgeons, radiotherapists, and nutritionists must work closely together to balance the mother and the fetus with the limited treatment experience and data available, and to make win-win choices regarding the appropriate timing, treatment modality, and dosage of medications. This article briefly discusses the mechanisms, treatment options, and prognosis of CRC during pregnancy in order to provide evidence-based medicine for the distinct pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of GCRC.