NON-CODING RNA AS EMERGING DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC TOOLS IN COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major public health concern with an increasing global incidence and mortality rate. Conventional prognostic parameters, such as TNM stage and histological grade, provide limited insight into tumor biology and fail to predict individual therapeutic response. Molecular profiling has revealed that ncRNAs regulate gene networks controlling proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and immune evasion. The tissue-specific and stable nature of ncRNAs in body fluids makes them promising non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis assessment.