March Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: How Liquid Biopsy Is Shaping the Future of CRC Detection and Care
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which makes it an important time to highlight both the ongoing public health challenge of colorectal cancer and the technologies that are helping reshape early detection and treatment. Despite being one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when caught early, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA) reminds us that colorectal cancer is the deadliest cancer in people under 50 and the second deadliest overall in the United States. CCA also emphasizes that one in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. These figures show why awareness, screening, and accessible diagnostic tools matter now more than ever.
CCA asks a pointed and powerful question: “If colorectal cancer is highly preventable with screening and highly treatable when caught early, then why is colorectal cancer the second deadliest cancer in the U.S.?” The answer is layered. A lack of knowledge about prevention and limited access to screening contribute significantly, and a third of people who could get checked don’t. Missed or delayed screening allows colorectal cancer to grow quietly for years before symptoms appear. Awareness Month, established by President Bill Clinton in February 2000, has since become a nationwide rallying point where thousands of patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates come together to promote screening and support those affected.
Liquid Biopsy: A Growing Market With Important Implications for Colorectal Cancer
The newest edition of Kalorama Information’s The Worldwide Market for Liquid Biopsy shows how liquid biopsy is transforming cancer detection and monitoring. The global liquid biopsy market reached $2.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $5 billion by 2030, fueled by a strong double‑digit CAGR. This growth reflects the healthcare system’s shift toward less invasive diagnostics, better treatment monitoring, and technologies capable of detecting disease earlier and more accurately.
“Colorectal cancer accounts for 2% of the overall global liquid biopsy market, or $59 million, in 2025, and is forecast to almost double by 2030, reflecting a strong double‑digit CAGR.” – Kalorama Information
Within that landscape, colorectal cancer plays a meaningful and fast‑growing role.
“Lung cancer is the most frequently targeted cancer type in the liquid biopsy market, with nearly half of all tests currently available or in development focused on this indication. Based on our research, colorectal cancer is among the next most targeted cancer, with about one quarter of tests addressing this disease. Incidence rates of colorectal cancer continue to rise as the global population ages and unhealthy dietary patterns persist,” said Justin Saeks, senior analyst for Kalorama Information and author of The Worldwide Market for Liquid Biopsy. “Back in 2018, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines to recommend colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45, down from the previous recommendation of age 50. This change expanded the U.S. screening population by 21 million people, creating a substantial market opportunity if and when liquid biopsy tests are incorporated into clinical guidelines.”
The Worldwide Market for Liquid Biopsy estimates that colorectal cancer accounts for 2% of the overall global liquid biopsy market, or $59 million, in 2025, and is forecast to almost double by 2030, reflecting a strong double‑digit CAGR. Colorectal cancer represents a substantial portion of tests under development, and several liquid biopsy platforms directly support CRC detection and therapy guidance.
Notable examples include:
- ColoScape (DiaCarta)
- OncoBEAM RAS CRC (Sysmex‑Inostics)
- FoundationOne Liquid CDx (Foundation Medicine)
- Guardant360 CDx (Guardant Health)
- and others
All of these tests are highlighted in Kalorama’s market report and illustrate the wide range of technologies being applied to colorectal cancer detection and management.
Why Awareness Month Matters More Than Ever
Screening saves lives, yet many people still delay or avoid it. CCA notes that a third of eligible adults are not getting screened and that missed or late screenings give the disease time to progress unnoticed. This is especially concerning because early‑stage colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival rate, while advanced disease is far more difficult to treat.
The rise in cases among people under 50 intensifies the urgency. Research from multiple sources shows that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in Americans under 50, and younger adults are increasingly diagnosed at more advanced stages because they are typically not yet in routine screening programs. Awareness campaigns like Dress in Blue Day (the first Friday in March annually) and nationwide community events aim to change this by encouraging earlier conversations, increased vigilance around symptoms, and more proactive screening behaviors.
Looking Ahead
The intersection of colorectal cancer awareness and expanding liquid biopsy technologies presents an important opportunity. As the global liquid biopsy market grows from $2.8 billion in 2025 to more than $5 billion by 2030, and as colorectal‑cancer‑specific liquid biopsy revenue nearly doubles over that same time span, the potential to detect this disease earlier, less invasively, and more accurately will only continue to increase.
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month reminds us that screening is prevention, and prevention is power. With accessible tools, better education, and new diagnostic technologies entering the market, there is real momentum toward reducing deaths from a disease that remains both preventable and treatable when caught early.
Learn More
Visit our report page to learn more about Kalorama Information’s research on the liquid biopsy market.
