Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In developed
countries, its mortality remains high, yet the prevalence has established owing to effective screening
programs; however due to the westernization of lifestyle, the incidences in many other countries have
increased. Although the treatment of CRC has improved in the last few years, the side effects of these
approaches cannot be neglected. Recently, members of the family of free fatty acid receptors (FFARs)
have become attractive pharmacological targets in many diseases, including asthma; studies also point
to their role in carcinogenesis. Here, we discuss current knowledge and future directions in FFAR research
related to CRC. Contradictory results of FFARs modulation may derive from the pleiotropic
effects of FFAR ligands, receptor distribution and different signal transduction. Hence, we indicate directions
of further studies to fully use the potential of FFARs in CRC.
