Current Status of Precision Medicine in Colorectal Cancer in Japan

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major health burden in Japan, with precision medicine playing an increasingly critical role in treatment optimization. Key biomarkers, including RAS, BRAF, microsatellite instability/mismatch repair, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, can be used as a gui...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of molecular sciences Vol. 26; no. 11; p. 5029
Main Authors Kojitani, Yoshiki, Takeda, Masayuki
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 23.05.2025
MDPI
Subjects
Analysis
Antimitotic agents
Antineoplastic agents
Biomarkers
Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics
Cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis
Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics
Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy
DNA methylation
Drug therapy
Epidermal growth factor
Genetic Testing
Humans
Immunotherapy
Insurance coverage
Japan
Molecular Targeted Therapy - methods
Mutation
Precision Medicine - methods
Precision Medicine - trends
Review
Japan
United States > US
precision medicine
molecular targeted therapy
colorectal cancer
human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
Japan
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Summary:Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major health burden in Japan, with precision medicine playing an increasingly critical role in treatment optimization. Key biomarkers, including RAS, BRAF, microsatellite instability/mismatch repair, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, can be used as a guide for molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Advances in molecular diagnostics, including comprehensive genomic profiling, have enabled more precise treatment selection such as RET and NTRK fusions. Nationwide initiatives, such as c-CAT and SCRUM-Japan, can leverage real-world data to refine clinical strategies. Recent developments in circulating tumor DNA analysis have led to novel approaches for minimal residual disease monitoring, as demonstrated by the CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY study. However, certain challenges persist, including the time required for genetic testing, the limited availability of targeted therapies, and disparities in access to molecular tumor boards. This review summarizes the current landscape of precision medicine in CRC in Japan, emphasizing key biomarkers, genetic testing strategies, targeted therapies, and emerging technologies. Future research should focus on expanding clinical trial access, accelerating drug approvals, and integrating real-world data into clinical practice to further advance precision medicine.
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ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms26115029