Skip to main content
Colorectal Cancer Alliance
  • Helpline (877) 422 2030
  • Screening Quiz
  • My BlueHQ
  • About Us
    • The basics: what is colorectal cancer?
      • Colorectal cancer symptoms
      • Facts and statistics
      • Stages of colorectal cancer
      • Health equity
      • Glossary
      male patient with doctor in office
      What to know
      Knowing your biomarker status informs the most effective treatment plan
    • Screening & prevention: why, when, how?
      • Get screened at 45
      • How to talk to your doctor about screening
      • Colonoscopy prep tips
      • Screening methods
      • Prevention
      two people looking at phone together
      Get Screened
      Take our free screening quiz for personalized recommendations
    • Treatment: what are your options?
      For you
      • Patients
      • Survivors
      • Caregivers
      • Newly diagnosed
      Types of Treatment
      • Surgery
      • Chemo, radiation, and other therapies
      • Clinical trials
      • Why biomarkers matter
      • Colostomy and ileostomy
      • Side effects
      Latina woman with male doctor
      RESOURCES FOR YOU
      10 questions to ask your doctor when newly diagnosed
    • Resources & Support
      Resources
      • BlueHQ patient support hub
      • Live navigator helpline
      • Financial assistance
      • Living well with colorectal cancer
      • Palliative care
      • Hospice
      • Resource library
      Community Support
      • Online communities
      • Buddy Program
      • Young-onset support
      • Stories of hope
      • Community chat
      Dressy couple posing for selfie
      YOUR PATIENT PORTAL
      Personalized resources are ready for you on BlueHQ
    • Research: investments and influence to cure CRC
      • Need for research innovation
      • Plan to cure CRC
      • Apply for a research grant
      • Research funded by Project Cure CRC
      Project Cure Summit audience 2024
      Project Cure CRC
      Learn about our effort to fund expedited and novel cancer research
    • Get involved: help us end colorectal cancer
      Events
      • Walk to End Colon Cancer
      • Attend a Blue Hope Bash
      • Create your own event
      • View all events
      Give
      • Donate now
      • Planned Giving
      • Honor a loved one
      • Start your own fundraiser
      • Shop the Alliance store
      • Other ways to give
      Advocate
      • Volunteer
      • Become an advocate
      • Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
      • Partner with us
    Colorectal Cancer Alliance
      • The basics: what is colorectal cancer?
        • Colorectal cancer symptoms
        • Facts and statistics
        • Stages of colorectal cancer
        • Health equity
        • Glossary
        male patient with doctor in office
        What to know
        Knowing your biomarker status informs the most effective treatment plan
      • Screening & prevention: why, when, how?
        • Get screened at 45
        • How to talk to your doctor about screening
        • Colonoscopy prep tips
        • Screening methods
        • Prevention
        two people looking at phone together
        Get Screened
        Take our free screening quiz for personalized recommendations
      • Treatment: what are your options?
      • For you
        • Patients
        • Survivors
        • Caregivers
        • Newly diagnosed
        Types of Treatment
        • Surgery
        • Chemo, radiation, and other therapies
        • Clinical trials
        • Why biomarkers matter
        • Colostomy and ileostomy
        • Side effects
        Latina woman with male doctor
        RESOURCES FOR YOU
        10 questions to ask your doctor when newly diagnosed
      • Resources & Support
      • Resources
        • BlueHQ patient support hub
        • Live navigator helpline
        • Financial assistance
        • Living well with colorectal cancer
        • Palliative care
        • Hospice
        • Resource library
        Community Support
        • Online communities
        • Buddy Program
        • Young-onset support
        • Stories of hope
        • Community chat
        Dressy couple posing for selfie
        YOUR PATIENT PORTAL
        Personalized resources are ready for you on BlueHQ
      • Research: investments and influence to cure CRC
        • Need for research innovation
        • Plan to cure CRC
        • Apply for a research grant
        • Research funded by Project Cure CRC
        Project Cure Summit audience 2024
        Project Cure CRC
        Learn about our effort to fund expedited and novel cancer research
      • Get involved: help us end colorectal cancer
      • Events
        • Walk to End Colon Cancer
        • Attend a Blue Hope Bash
        • Create your own event
        • View all events
        Give
        • Donate now
        • Planned Giving
        • Honor a loved one
        • Start your own fundraiser
        • Shop the Alliance store
        • Other ways to give
        Advocate
        • Volunteer
        • Become an advocate
        • Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
        • Partner with us
    • You don't have to do this alone. Call our toll-free helpline: (877) 422-2030

    • Quick Links
      • About us
      • Mission and goals
      • Financial information
      • Our team
      • Board of Directors
      • Careers
      • Sponsorship
      • News
      • For media
      • Contact us
      Alliance Sites
      • LEAD FROM BEHIND
      • BlueHQ patient support hub
      • Alliance shop
    • Home
    • Resources & Support
      • Resources
      • BlueHQ patient support hub
      • Live navigator helpline
      • Financial assistance
      • Living well with colorectal cancer
      • Palliative care
      • Hospice
      • Resource library
      • Community Support
      • Online communities
      • Buddy Program
      • Young-onset support
      • Stories of hope
      • Community chat

    Colorectal cancer resource library

    • Share with Email
    Type
    Topics
    Audiences

    Showing 301–316 of 316 results

    Filtered By:
    Your search did not return any results. Please try another search.
    bluehq

    Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Biomarker

    When colorectal cancer spreads, it can cause high or low levels of certain chemicals in the blood. Carcinoembryonic antigen, also called CEA, is a protein that may be elevated in colorectal cancer patients. High CEA levels can indicate your cancer has recurred or has spread beyond the colon. CEA is also sometimes higher in those who smoke or women who are pregnant. It may take additional testing to confirm the results of your CEA testing.

    Dec 22, 2023
    bluehq

    Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) Biomarker

    Our bodies have a gene that produces the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase enzyme, which helps break down certain medications in the liver. If there is mutation in the gene, your body will not produce enough of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase enzyme. This condition is called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency (DPD).  Having DPD can cause fluorouracil-based chemotherapy drugs (which are commonly used in colon cancer treatment) to build up in your body and cause severely toxic reactions.

    Dec 22, 2023
    HER2 Biomarker
    bluehq

    HER2 Biomarker

    The HER2 protein is a receptor, which is a microscopic “spike” that sticks out on the surface of almost all the cells in our body. Sometimes there is an abnormality in the cell and multiple HER2 genes are produced, which is called amplification. When the HER2 gene is amplified, it produces excess receptors on the cell surface; this is called overexpression. Overexpression drives  uncontrolled growth of the cells, which is how a cancer tumor forms. 

    Dec 22, 2023
    NRAS Biomarker
    bluehq

    NRAS Biomarker

    NRAS is a member of the RAS family of genes that include KRAS and HRAS. A normal NRAS gene teams up with a group of proteins as an “on/off” switch to monitor cell growth. This abnormality is known as a driver mutation because it causes the switch to be locked in the “on” position and drives uncontrolled cell growth, leading a  cancer tumor to form. NRAS mutations are found in about 5% of colorectal cancer patients. Patients with NRAS-mutated colorectal cancer should receive chemotherapy (some examples are FOLFOX, CAPOX, and FOLFIRI), with or without Bevacizumab (an antibody that inhibits the growth of blood vessels and oxygen supply in the tumor).

    Dec 22, 2023
    PIK3CA Biomarker
    bluehq

    PIK3CA Biomarker

    PIK3CA is a gene that is involved in several different processes in cell growth. A PIK3CA mutation is a driver mutation that drives the growth of cells. It exists in many types of cancer and in 10-20% of colorectal cancers. Patients with PIK3CA-mutated colorectal cancer should receive standard chemotherapy. There is at least one drug being used successfully in PIK3CA-mutated breast cancer and it has opened up clinical trials for other PIK3CA-mutated solid tumors, including colorectal cancer.

    Dec 22, 2023
    bluehq

    UGT1A1 Biomarker

    The UGT1A1 gene is present in all the cells in our body. The normal UGT1A1 gene provides instructions for making a certain enzyme (called UDP glucuronosyltransferases) that helps the liver break down medications effectively. If you have a mutation in the UGT1A1 gene, your body may not be able to process certain chemotherapy drugs. Patients with this rare mutation have symptoms such as impaired liver function, low white cell counts, and severe diarrhea. Your doctor will monitor you closely during your chemotherapy treatment to watch for any adverse reactions. 

    Dec 22, 2023
    Clinical Trial To Evaluate Onvansertib as First-Line mCRC Treatment
    bluehq

    Clinical Trial To Evaluate Onvansertib as First-Line mCRC Treatment

    People with RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have seen little progress in first-line treatment options over the past two decades, but that could soon change for thousands of new patients, according to a press release from Cardiff Oncology.

    Jan 16, 2024
    bluehq

    What Are Biomarkers?

    Not all tumors are the same, even if they are within the same cancer type. In other words, two people with colorectal cancer may actually have different types of colorectal cancer in terms of the cells that make up their tumors. 

    Mar 14, 2024
    bluehq

    Immunotherapy and colorectal cancer

    Immunotherapy is a class of cancer drugs based on biologics that find and destroy colorectal cancer cells. There are different types of immunotherapy, and all immunotherapy works with your immune system to fight cancer.

    Jun 17, 2024
    Understanding Your Pathology Report
    bluehq

    Understanding Your Pathology Report

    A pathology report is a medical report that describes the characteristics of a tissue or blood specimen that has been removed from your body. The specimen is analyzed by a pathologist, who writes a report of their findings for the doctor who has ordered the report and/or performed the procedure. 

    Jun 17, 2024
    Understanding Your Biomarker Test Report
    bluehq

    Understanding Your Biomarker Test Report

    You had probably never even heard of biomarkers until you faced a cancer diagnosis, but they're a very important part of treatment planning. Since every tumor has its own unique pattern of biomarkers, knowing your biomarker profile can help you and your doctor choose the right treatment for your specific tumor.

    Jun 17, 2024
    Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) Therapy for Colorectal Cancer with Tumors in the Liver (Mets)
    bluehq

    Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) Therapy for Colorectal Cancer with Tumors in the Liver (Mets)

    If you have colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, you may want to consider Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) therapy. HAI therapy is an FDA-approved cancer treatment that delivers a concentrated dose of medicine into the liver through the hepatic artery. Unlike systemic chemotherapy, HAI therapy is delivered only to the tumor site in the liver, so it does not add additional systemic side effects to the rest of the body.

    Feb 28, 2025
    HAI liver pump for mCRC offers second chances
    bluehq

    HAI liver pump for mCRC offers second chances

    Hope Brooks is the vision of health. She exercises daily, teaches core power yoga, keeps up with doctor appointments, and participates in other healthy habits. Weeks after her 50th birthday, Hope began to experience abdominal pain, which led to a trip to urgent care. A simple blood draw prompted concern for her liver.

    Feb 28, 2025
    bluehq

    BRAF Biomarker

    The BRAF gene is present in all the cells in our bodies. A BRAF mutation (a change or damage to the gene) is found in about 10% of colorectal cancer patients. If your biomarker tests show an abnormal BRAF mutation, treatments that target abnormal BRAF genes may be helpful. BRAF inhibitors are drugs that can turn off and stop mutated BRAF activity. 

    Apr 1, 2025
    KRAS Biomarker
    bluehq

    KRAS Biomarker

    KRAS biomarkers are members of the RAS family of genes that include NRAS and HRAS. A normal KRAS gene teams up with a group of proteins as an “on/off” switch to monitor cell growth. An abnormal mutation in the KRAS gene happens early in the development of cancer. Approximately 40-45% of colorectal cancer patients have a KRAS mutation in their tumor. Patients with mutated or unknown KRAS status should receive chemotherapy including FOLFOX, CAPOX, or FOLFIRI with or without bevacizumab.

    Apr 1, 2025
    Targeted therapy
    bluehq

    Targeted therapy

    Targeted therapy uses drugs that target specific genes and proteins, that contribute to cancer growth and survival, to fight cancer.

    Apr 1, 2025
    Page 1 ...Page 14 Page 15 Page 16
    BlueHQ

    Sign up for BlueHQ

    BlueHQ.org is the Colorectal Cancer Alliance's online patient support hub. Access personalized resources, tools, and community.

    support group three people

    Get connected with your allies

    There are many ways to find your community through the Alliance. Try one of our online communities.

    Learn More

    You don't have to do this alone. Call our toll-free helpline: (877) 422-2030

    Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • LINKEDIN
    • TWITTER-X
    • TIKTOK
    • YOUTUBE
    Sign up for life-saving updates and alerts
    CAPTCHA

    Sign up for text updates. By participating, you agree to the terms & privacy policy for autodialed recurring donation messages from Colorectal Cancer Alliance to the phone number you provide. No consent required to buy. Text STOP to end. Msg&data rates may apply.

    Quick Links
    • About us
    • Mission and goals
    • Financial information
    • Our team
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Sponsorship
    • News
    • For media
    • Contact us
    Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
    • All events
    • Join us to receive updates
    Alliance Sites
    • LEAD FROM BEHIND
    • BlueHQ patient support hub
    • Alliance shop

    1025 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 1066. Washington, DC 20005

    © 2025 Colorectal Cancer Alliance. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Tax ID Number: 86-0947831

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy policy
    • Non-discrimination statement
    • Do not sell or share my personal data
    Charity Navigator
    GuideStar