Research on colorectal and bowel cancer. Covers AI-audited colonoscopy, gut-bacteria links, family risk, and early-onset differences.
A large Medicare analysis found that depression is associated with higher cancer mortality, while psychotherapy soon after diagnosis reduces cancer risk. Patients with depression had a 21% lower risk of cancer-specific mortality after receiving psychotherapy within four weeks of their diagnosis.
The UVA Weber Symposium will discuss the latest research and advancements in metastasis, a complex area of cancer research and care. The event will bring together top scientists and physicians to present findings on cancer metastasis, genetics, and treatment considerations.
A retrospective cohort study of 50,802 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer found that younger patients (aged 45 and younger) had longer median disease-specific survival and a higher rate of 10-year survival compared to older patients. Younger patients were also more likely to have tumors in the left-sided colon and rectum, and a...
A matched cohort study of over 30,000 patients found that appendectomy was associated with a 58% lower relative risk of colorectal cancer diagnosis. The exact mechanisms behind this association are unknown, but may be related to earlier detection of an underlying cancer and removal of a source of inflammation.
Researchers found that higher blood vessel density in tumors was associated with better survival, while certain vessel subtypes linked to angiogenesis were correlated with poorer outcomes. The study suggests that tumor vessel characteristics may serve as prognostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer.
Researchers have mapped cellular differences between two similar bowel diseases, identifying hidden immune activity that may explain why one carries a much higher risk of colon cancer. The study found that patients with PSC-associated IBD had a distinct microbiome and higher levels of immune activity even in the absence of inflammation.
A metabolite called DAHB boosts immune cells against cancer, predicting tumor success and showing promise in small cell lung cancer treatment. Researchers also found that tumor CD19 levels can predict the success of CAR T cell therapy and identified a new targeted drug combination.
A recent study reveals peptide deformylase (PDF) as a novel biomarker for 'cold' Colorectal cancer, correlated with poor prognosis and immune evasion. The study's findings provide a metabolic-immune roadmap for precision immunotherapy, offering a potential target for overcoming immune resistance.
Researchers at CU Anschutz have developed CAR T-cell therapy to target two pathways that help colorectal tumors grow and evade the immune system, B7-H3 and IL-8. The therapy aims to provide a more durable response than traditional chemotherapy.
A study suggests that exposure to Helicobacter pylori may be associated with a 1.6-fold greater risk of bowel cancer, with a potential link to around 1 in 5 cases worldwide. The risk is higher among those born in more recent decades, highlighting the need for further research and preventive strategies.
A new AI tool has been developed to rapidly and accurately measure colonoscopy quality, improving care quality and reducing colorectal cancer mortality. The tool analyzed nearly 19,000 colonoscopies performed by 55 physicians, identifying key moments and tracking quality indicators that cannot be feasibly measured by humans at scale.
A Swedish registry study found that IBD patients with multiple close relatives having colorectal cancer are significantly more likely to develop the disease. The study suggests that future cancer screening guidelines should consider the number of cancer cases in a patient's family.
Researchers analyzed data from 1,691 Australians with liver-spreading bowel cancer, finding younger patients had distinct tumour characteristics and lived longer after treatment. Genetic mutations such as BRAF and KRAS were associated with poorer outcomes across both age groups, highlighting the importance of genetic testing.
Researchers at CU Anschutz and Indiana University School of Medicine identified a biological process that explains how colorectal cancer can cause severe muscle and bone loss. Blocking the production of a protein called IGFBP1 helped preserve muscle and bone, improving muscle strength in laboratory and preclinical models.
Researchers at the University of Turku discovered a molecular mechanism that regulates the spread of aggressive colorectal cancer. The mechanism involves the secretion of mucus onto the surface of tumour spheres, which facilitates their migration and invasion of tissue.
Researchers found that active participation in colorectal cancer screening was associated with a 43% lower risk of dying from the disease, compared to just a 26% lower risk for those invited to screening. This study highlights the importance of taking part in colorectal cancer screening to save lives.
Researchers analyzed the make-up of oral microbes to detect signals associated with gastric and colorectal cancer, finding distinct signatures in patients with cancer. The study's findings could lead to the development of new, less-invasive screening tests for gastrointestinal cancers.
Scientists discovered a previously missed DNA mutation pattern in colorectal cancer, found in 3 independent datasets of 2616 tumors, suggesting a new mechanism of DNA damage accumulation. The pattern appears relatively late in tumor development and is associated with small insertions and deletions in DNA.
Researchers found that tumors can damage peripheral nerves before chemotherapy begins, leading to potential nerve damage and chronic pain. The study challenges the conventional thought that peripheral neuropathy is mostly due to chemotherapy treatment.
Researchers identify IL-26 as a key regulator that reprograms tumor cells to evade immune attack, promoting immune escape and resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. Targeting IL-26 may improve immunotherapy outcomes and lead to new treatments for cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.
A recent study found that monocyte-derived IL-1β promotes CRC progression by activating a positive feedback loop driving EMT, tumor growth, and metastasis. The p65-KRT7-ILK axis is identified as a key regulator of CRC progression.
A case-control study found that patients with overweight or obesity at diagnosis had better survival rates than those with normal weight. However, the apparent advantage was largely due to prediagnostic weight loss associated with cancer, and should not be taken as evidence for weight gain in healthy individuals.
A NIH-funded research project has generated a comprehensive collection of patient-derived tumor models, covering 25 types of cancer from thousands of donor tissues. These models closely match their parental tumors in terms of genetic alterations and gene expression signatures, enabling researchers to explore tumor evolution and diversity.
Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discovered ZFP36L2, a protein that regulates stem cell renewal and repair in the gut. Colorectal cancer cells exploit this process to spread to new organs through metastasis. Disrupting ZFP36L2 may compromise cancer cells' ability to form new tumors.
A phase 3 clinical trial found that adding high-dose vitamin D to standard treatment did not improve progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Median progression-free survival was 11.8 months with high-dose vitamin D compared to 10.3 months with standard dose.
Researchers at Kobe University have successfully created a subclass of T cells that can be used across patients and reproduceably turned back into those T cells. These cells attack and shrink human patient-derived colorectal cancer tumors implanted in mice, offering potential for future systemic therapy.
A joint KAIST research team developed a new framework for analyzing networks of circulating amino acids, reflecting the body's metabolic state. They showed that this approach can predict recurrence or metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer more accurately than current methods.
Researchers developed a library of 220 patient-derived tumor organoids, showing promise in screening treatments and recapitulating the tumor immune microenvironment. These models may enable personalized cancer treatment selection, using organoids as avatars during clinical trials.
A Rutgers-led study of nearly 500,000 adults reveals that repeat testing is linked to earlier diagnoses and depends on primary care provider behaviors. The study found that health systems play a significant role in increasing patient consistency, with Kaiser Permanente having the highest adherence rate.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center have made significant progress in treating rare brain infections with a virus-specific T cell therapy, achieving an overall response rate of 56.8% in patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The center also introduced a novel CAR T cell therapy for hard-to-treat kidney ...
A subset of cancers, known as microsatellite instability (MSI) and deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) cancers, are more visible to the immune system than others. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC identified a biological feedback loop that helps activate the immune response against these types of cancer.
AC004854.2 is significantly upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and correlates with poor clinical outcomes, increased tumor aggressiveness, and reduced overall survival. It disrupts the PUF60–FUBP1 complex and activates c-MYC transcription, driving CRC malignancy.
A cohort study reveals that colorectal cancer treatment delays are associated with increased metastasis risk. This finding highlights the need for integrated care and tailored benchmarks for treatment initiation to improve timely and equitable care.
Researchers at Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute discovered that reduced BECLIN1 levels weaken the gut's protective barrier, leading to increased susceptibility to inflammation and disease. This finding may help explain why some people are more susceptible to gut inflammation and associated diseases.
A new preclinical study has identified a gut bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, that helps prime intestinal stem cells for faster recovery after radiation treatment. Fasting increases the population of this bacterium, which produces a small molecule that changes histone tags to allow gene expression in intestinal cells.
A study published in Cancer Cell identified a six-gene signature in microscopic colorectal cancer liver metastases that may help predict recurrence after treatment. The findings suggest these tiny tumor deposits could serve as a tissue-based marker of residual cancer cells, recurrence risk and chemotherapy resistance.
Researchers have identified a consistent microbial signature of colorectal cancer by reanalyzing nearly 6,800 gut microbiome profiles. The study found that microbes detected in stool samples reflect microbes found directly within colorectal tumours.
Research reveals two distinctly different microbial worlds in colorectal cancer, one for left- and right-sided tumors. The study found that the mucosal microbiome varies dramatically depending on tumor location, opening possibilities for microbiome-based diagnostics and personalized treatment approaches.
This review highlights the regulatory roles of m6A in colorectal cancer, integrating oncogenic signaling and metabolic pathways. Key regulators include METTL3, METTL14, FTO, ALKBH5, and IGF2BP families, which control tumor growth, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapy resistance.
A recent study found associations between early-onset colorectal cancer and male sex, Hispanic ethnicity, high birthweight, maternal birthplace, and paternal age. The study suggests that these factors may contribute to the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Researchers discovered that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) influences certain immune cells in the tumour microenvironment, affecting how the body defends against the tumour. Silencing EGFR in myeloid cells led to reduced production of factors inhibiting T cells, allowing them to attack cancer cells more effectively.
Colorectal cancer cells exploit a specific mitochondrial complex, complex II, to buffer iron toxicity and prevent cell death. By knocking out this complex, researchers found that cancer cells were more susceptible to cell death, suggesting it as a promising target for drug development.
The American Gastroenterological Association recommends colonoscopy as the strongest screening option for colorectal cancer due to its ability to detect early cancers and remove precancerous polyps. Stool tests are a reasonable alternative when colonoscopy is not available, but abnormal results must be followed by a colonoscopy.
The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust announced the selection of five early-career scientists to pursue four-year grants in cancer research. The scholars will investigate big questions about cancer development, diagnosis, and treatment.
A cross-sectional study found that colorectal cancer screening participation increased after an organized population screening program, but socioeconomic disparities remained. Younger age groups, single households, and lower-income individuals still lag behind in screening uptake.
A study of over 229,000 obese adults without diabetes found that weight loss drugs, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, were associated with a 41% decrease in the overall risk of developing obesity-related cancers. GLP-1 RAs also showed larger reductions in certain subgroups, including men and gynaecologic cancers.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center have made significant advances in understanding cancer biology, developing AI-powered atlas of tertiary lymphoid structures as prognostic biomarkers, and uncovering drivers of resistance to KRAS inhibitors. Additionally, they have discovered a molecular pathway that drives stressed cells to b...
A cross-sectional study found early age–onset colorectal cancer patients with improved overall survival but delayed treatment experienced worse outcomes. Language barriers may be a modifiable risk factor contributing to these delays.
A novel deep learning framework integrates high-resolution pathology images with spatial transcriptomics and proteomics to reveal complex intra-tumor heterogeneity in colorectal cancer. The approach identifies distinct molecular subtypes that correlate with immune cell infiltration patterns.
Researchers found that CTHRC1, a secreted protein in tumor microenvironment, promotes colorectal cancer growth by limiting effective immune surveillance. The study suggests targeting CTHRC1 as a promising new strategy for future therapies.
The study found high-risk associations between alcohol use and all ten cancers examined, with risk increasing progressively as intake rose. Low-to-moderate drinking was associated with lower disease risk for type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke.
A Phase 3 trial showed a 56% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer treated with a targeted therapy combination. The treatment improved median progression-free survival and overall survival, with nearly 75% of patients alive at 18 months.
Researchers from Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center present new findings on a hospital program that redistributes unused oral cancer drugs donated by patients. The program helps patients avoid treatment delays caused by insurance issues, shipping problems or cost, and has been shown to reduce drug delays by six days.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have developed an AI model that can analyze colorectal cancer samples more efficiently and accurately predict the functioning of the cells' DNA repair mechanism. This could lead to shorter diagnosis times, reduced costs, and improved analysis accuracy.
The American Cancer Society has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, introducing blood-based and at-home stool testing options to increase accessibility. The new recommendations aim to close the screening gap and detect more cancers at an earlier stage, with a focus on underserved populations.
The American Cancer Society has endorsed two new types of stool tests and recommends limiting the use of blood tests for colorectal cancer screening. The guidelines aim to encourage people to get screened while improving detection rates.
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that gut microbiome alterations persist even after adenoma removal, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers discovered that diet and physical activity were closely tied to CRC-associated gut microbes, suggesting lifestyle habits may contribute to sustained risk.
A new study found that an intervention increasing colorectal cancer screening had similar effects across Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White patients. Overall completion rates remained lower for Black patients despite the intervention.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered genetic and cell-state adaptive mechanisms that drive resistance to KRAS inhibitors in patients with KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer. Targeting early inflammatory responses by adding TBK1 blockade may be a promising combination strategy to overcome treatment resistance.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute presented various studies on cancer treatments, including the efficacy of lung cancer drug neladalkib and a psychosocial digital app for patients with multiple myeloma. An electronic frailty index was also used to identify high-risk older adults receiving CAR-T cell therapy.