The colon, or large intestine, is the distal segment of the gastrointestinal tract extending from the cecum to the rectum and comprising the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid portions. Its principal physiological roles are the absorption of water and electrolytes from the residual material delivered by …
The colon, or large intestine, is the distal segment of the gastrointestinal tract extending from the cecum to the rectum and comprising the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid portions. Its principal physiological roles are the absorption of water and electrolytes from the residual material delivered by the small intestine, the fermentation of undigested carbohydrate by a dense resident microbiota, and the formation, storage, and elimination of feces. The colonic wall features characteristic haustral folds and a mucosal lining whose epithelial turnover and interaction with luminal contents are central to health and disease. The colon is a major site of clinically important pathology, most notably colorectal cancer, which often arises through identifiable precursor lesions and molecular alterations, as well as inflammatory and functional disorders. Research and diagnostic effort centers on early detection, molecular screening, and targeted therapy. Themes in the associated literature include haustral fold morphology as a factor in interval colorectal cancer, microRNA-based and microfluidic approaches for diagnostic screening of colon cancer in stool, experimental models of chemically induced colon cancer, the role of apoptosis-response and adhesion proteins in metastasis, colon-targeted oral drug delivery, predictors of colon cancer in patients with iron deficiency, and colorectal cancer prevention through diet and lifestyle. This journal publishes peer-reviewed research on the colon, colorectal neoplasia, and intestinal disease.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 45 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Colon, linking to each citing work.