Metastatic colorectal cancer

Metastatic colorectal cancer refers to advanced, stage IV malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the large intestine—either the colon or the rectum—that has disseminated beyond local regional structures

Metastatic colorectal cancer refers to advanced, stage IV malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the large intestine—either the colon or the rectum—that has disseminated beyond local regional structures Clinically, affected patients may present with bowel obstruction, hematochezia, and cachexia, as well as organ-specific manifestations of distant spread such as hepatomegaly, jaundice, or dyspnea

Tumor cells spread hematogenously, via the lymphatic system, or through peritoneal seeding, most commonly establishing secondary lesions in the liver, lungs, distant lymph nodes, and peritoneum

Tumor cells spread hematogenously, via the lymphatic system, or through peritoneal seeding, most commonly establishing secondary lesions in the liver, lungs, distant lymph nodes, and peritoneum Clinically, affected patients may present with bowel obstruction, hematochezia, and cachexia, as well as organ-specific manifestations of distant spread such as hepatomegaly, jaundice, or dyspnea

Pathophysiologically, the disease is driven by the progressive accumulation of genomic and epigenetic alterations, frequently involving mutations in key oncogenic drivers such as *KRAS*, *NRAS*, or *BRAF*, along with distinct microsatellite instability or mismatch repair statuses