6 Key Ways Real-World Data Is Advancing Colorectal Cancer Therapies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite advances in targeted therapies, treatment resistance, disease recurrence, and therapy optimization remain critical challenges. Real-world data (RWD) is transforming CRC research by complementing traditional clinical trials, accelerating drug development, and improving patient outcomes.

Quest Diagnostics provides robust CRC datasets derived from laboratory results, electronic health records (EHRs), and patient registries, encompassing over 5.8 million patient records and more than 30 key biomarkers. These datasets, available as Test-Based and Patient-Centric Cohort, offer deep insights into disease progression, treatment response, and biomarker prevalence. By leveraging comprehensive, deidentified datasets, Quest enables researchers and pharmaceutical companies to refine precision oncology approaches, improve clinical decision-making, and accelerate the commercialization of innovative CRC therapies.