Comprehensing the role of serum GGT in colorectal carcinoma: cancer risk, prognostic and diagnostic significance.

Abstract

Effective biomarkers are necessary for early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC), a disease that continues to be a major worldwide health problem. Due to a potential connection to colorectal cancer, serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), an important enzyme in metabolism of glutathione and cellular stress response, has drawn attention. GGT is an essential component of the antioxidant system that protects against oxidative stress. It is mostly found in organs such as the liver, kidneys, and biliary tract. Numerous health problems, such as metabolic disorders, liver illnesses, and several types of cancer, are linked to elevated blood GGT levels. This review aims to clarify the function of serum GGT in colorectal cancer by examining clinical research conducted over the past 20 years. A comprehensive analysis of pertinent literature identifies associations between high blood GGT levels and carcinoma of the colon risk, prognosis, and diagnostic potential. Increased GGT and a higher risk of colorectal cancer are positively correlated, according to epidemiological data consistently. The predictive capacity of GGT for colorectal adenomas underscores its use in early identification and preventive approaches. Additional clinical evidence indicates that higher GGT levels in CRC patients are associated with poorer outcomes, such as invasion of lymph nodes, advanced tumour stages, and decreased overall survival. Furthermore, changes in GGT levels after therapy offer information about patient survival and treatment effectiveness, highlighting its importance in therapy monitoring. In summary, this review underscores the multifaceted role of serum GGT in CRC, offering insights into its value as a biomarker for risk assessment, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring, while emphasizing the need for further research to validate its clinical utility.