Abstract

A key factor in determining the likely outcome for a patient with colorectal cancer is whether
or not the tumour has metastasised to the lymph nodes—information which is also important in
assessing any possibilities of lymph node resection so as to improve survival. In this review we
perform a wide-range assessment of literature relating to recent developments in gene expression
profiling (GEP) of the primary tumour, to determine their utility in assessing node status. A set
of characteristic genes seems to be involved in the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in
colorectal patients. Hence, GEP is applicable in personalised/individualised/tailored therapies and
provides insights into developing novel therapeutic targets. Not only is GEP useful in prediction of
LNM, but it also allows classification based on differences such as sample size, target gene expression,
and examination method.