A comprehensive review of gastrointestinal cancers: epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies.

OBJECTIVES

Gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), and liver cancer, represent a major global health burden. This review aims to provide an integrated overview of their epidemiology, risk factors, molecular mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies, while highlighting recent advances and ongoing challenges.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of recent literature was conducted to synthesize current evidence on genetic alterations, environmental and lifestyle risk factors, infectious agents such as Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as advances in screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

RESULTS

Gastrointestinal cancers arise from complex interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors. Recent progress in molecular profiling and biomarker discovery has improved understanding of tumor biology and enabled targeted and immune-based therapies. However, clinical benefits remain variable due to tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and limitations in biomarker reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant advances, gastrointestinal cancers remain challenging to manage due to late diagnosis and inconsistent treatment responses. Future efforts should focus on improving early detection, developing robust biomarkers, and implementing integrated, precision-based therapeutic strategies.