A new hereditary colorectal cancer network in the Middle East and eastern mediterranean countries to improve care for high-risk families.

Ghorbanoghli Z1, Jabari C2,3, Sweidan W4, Hammoudeh W5, Cortas G6, Sharara AI7, Abedrabbo A8, Hourani I9, Mahjoubi B10, Maijdzadeh K11, Tözün N12, Ziada-Bouchaar H13, Hamoudi W14, Diab O15, Khorshid HRK16, Lynch H17, Vasen H18,19.

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a very high incidence in the western world. Data from registries in the Middle East showed that the incidence of CRC is relatively low in these countries. However, these data also showed that CRC incidence has increased substantially over the past three decades and that a high proportion of cases are diagnosed at an early age (<50 years). In view of these findings, more attention should be paid to prevention. Because of the often limited financial resources, focused screening of individuals with hereditary CRC, in particular those with Lynch syndrome, appears to be the most cost-effective strategy. During recent meetings of the Palestinian Society of Gastroenterology and the Mediterranean Task force for Cancer Control (MTCC) in Jericho, and the Patient's Friends Society of Jerusalem in Hebron the issue of hereditary CRC in the Middle East was discussed and the idea was conceived to establish a network on hereditary colorectal cancer (HCCN-ME) with the goal of improving care for high-risk groups in the Middle East and (Eastern) Mediterranean Countries.