Research on colorectal and bowel cancer. Covers AI-audited colonoscopy, gut-bacteria links, family risk, and early-onset differences.
A nationwide implementation of a uniform multimodal prehabilitation program significantly reduced complication rates and length of hospital stay among patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. This study highlights the benefits of standardized preoperative care in improving patient outcomes.
Patients treated at NAPRC-accredited hospitals were less likely to have cancer cells remaining after surgery, associated with lower recurrence rates. These hospitals also delivered more comprehensive presurgical testing and improved surgical outcomes.
Researchers found a sustained reduction in colorectal cancer incidence and death associated with single flexible sigmoidoscopy screening, particularly in men. The study suggests that this screening method can provide long-lasting benefits beyond the usual 15-year screening age range.
At ASCO 2026, City of Hope experts will present research on innovative treatments for various types of cancer. Their findings include the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combinations, as well as the potential use of CBM588 to enhance immune checkpoint blockade in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center presented several studies at ASCO 2026 exploring new treatment options for patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and melanoma. These include velzatinib, a targeted therapy for GIST patients, and PRAME-directed T-cell receptor therapies for synovial sarcoma.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have identified a promising new strategy to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. The approach, which restores communication between key immune cells, achieved up to 100% tumor clearance in some models.
The ERASur clinical trial is investigating whether total ablative therapy can improve overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed, limited metastatic colorectal cancer. The study has reached one-third patient accrual milestone, signaling strong momentum.
Researchers discovered CLCA4 suppresses CSC properties and enhances anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, halting tumor growth and immune suppression in colorectal cancer. CLCA4 overexpression also reshaped the tumor immune microenvironment, sensitizing tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy.
A recent study found an association between early-onset colorectal cancer and exposure to certain pesticides, particularly picloram. However, experts warn that further investigations are needed to confirm causality and establish a biological mechanism.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered that enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis reshapes intestinal cell metabolism to support its growth, causing diseases like diarrhea and colorectal cancer. The study provides new possibilities for intervention by targeting metabolic interactions between host and microbes.
Cancer cases are on the rise among younger adults in England, with a significant increase in bowel and ovarian cancer rates. The study found that excess weight is a key contributor, but it's unlikely to fully explain this trend, as trends in risk factors such as smoking and diet have been stable or improving over the past decade.
Researchers found that a newer stool-based screening test, FIT-DNA, increased completion rates among participants from community health centers. However, follow-up colonoscopy tests remained low, highlighting the need for continued support and access to diagnostic services.
A study finds that rectal cancer mortality is increasing rapidly among adults under 45, with Hispanic and Western US populations experiencing the steepest rises. The study calls for earlier screening and increased awareness to combat this growing trend.
Colorectal cancer incidence is rising among young individuals in Switzerland, with cancers occurring before age 50 accounting for 6.1% of all cases. The study highlights the importance of awareness and earlier screening to address this trend.
Research from Lund University found a link between male infertility and an increased risk of developing colorectal and thyroid cancer. Men who underwent assisted reproduction techniques, such as ICSI, were more likely to develop these cancers.
A nationwide study reveals that individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to die from colorectal cancer at a younger age. The disparity in young-onset CRC mortality nearly doubled over the past three decades among those with 12 years or less education compared to those with 16 or more years of education.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation alters the composition of gut microbiota, leading to worse cancer progression and reduced effectiveness of chemotherapy. The study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy microbiome through good sleep and diet.
Researchers from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center present studies on single-cell technologies, integrative computational approaches, and experimental therapeutics, highlighting innovations in mRNA vaccines and spatial multi-omics techniques. The studies aim to improve immunotherapy responses and detect treatment-resistant glioma cells.
The study projects that cancer rates in Canada will be high in 2026, with declines seen in some cancers like colorectal and leukemia. However, death rates from pancreatic cancer are increasing.
A national study found that unmet health-related social needs are associated with lower colorectal cancer screening rates, particularly among adults aged 50-64. Addressing these needs may support age-specific strategies to improve screening rates.
UCLA investigators present new research on targeted drug delivery for colorectal cancer, COVID-19's impact on breast cancer outcomes, and AI in cancer diagnosis. These studies offer insights into overcoming drug resistance, enhancing immune responses, and improving outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
Adults aged 75 or older without adenoma on prior colonoscopy have lower risk of subsequent colorectal cancer and CRC death. Despite this, those with prior adenoma may consider deprioritizing surveillance colonoscopy relative to other health concerns.
A randomized trial found that duloxetine does not prevent painful neuropathy caused by oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer. The study suggests that duloxetine should only be used for managing existing neuropathy, not prevention.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is enrolling adolescent and young adult cancer patients in various trials, including genetic services and treatment studies. These trials aim to address longstanding gaps in care and improve outcomes for AYAs with cancer.
A new blood-based biomarker has been discovered to help identify individuals at higher risk of developing cancer in people with Lynch Syndrome. The biomarker uses immune signatures detected in blood samples to provide unique characteristics that can detect cancer risk, allowing for early detection and personalized surveillance.
Researchers developed first-in-class dual HIF inhibitors that, when combined with immunotherapy, can completely eliminate breast, colorectal, melanoma, and prostate tumors in mice. The drugs target HIF-1/2 transcription factors, which are key regulators of cancer progression.
A phase III clinical trial established a new treatment standard for patients with stage III colon cancer and deficient DNA mismatch repair. Immunotherapy drug atezolizumab showed significant benefits when added to chemotherapy, lowering the risk of cancer recurrence by 50%.
A legal petition has been filed with the USDA urging them to require warning labels on processed meat and poultry products due to their link to colorectal cancer. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine argues that these products should be labeled as potentially carcinogenic despite passing inspection.
The event provided free blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol screenings, as well as colorectal cancer risk assessments with take-home test kits. Families also participated in interactive health education activities and received CPR education.
Epigenetic modifiers targeting histone acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation show significant preclinical promise in CRC. Combination strategies and novel degraders offer pathways to overcome resistance, including PROTACs targeting KDM3A/B that eliminate cancer stem cells via Wnt/β-catenin inhibition.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and their colleagues are developing a simple, high-accuracy blood test to detect bowel cancer. The CASPDx CRC test aims to transform cancer outcomes by moving screening away from invasive methods.
The phase III Alliance ATOMIC trial shows that adding immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy improves clinical outcomes for patients with stage III dMMR colon cancer. The study found a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence risk and a 86.3% disease-free survival rate at three years.
A decrease in colorectal cancer incidence was observed among individuals with negative screening colonoscopy results, particularly men, suggesting risk-based follow-up strategies. Nonadherence to scheduled colonoscopies increased the risk of CRC, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve early detection.
Researchers discovered that migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP) suppresses colorectal cancer progression by preventing immune cells from adopting tumor-supportive behaviors. MIIP reduces cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis by interrupting an immune feedback loop involving STING, NFκB2, and IL-10.
A cross-sectional analysis found significant delays in treatment initiation for early-onset colorectal cancer in all-urban populations, with young male, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, or Hispanic patients disproportionately affected. These delays, exceeding 90 days, challenge assumptions of uniformly timely access in urban settings.
The Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for March 2026 highlights the importance of genetic testing for cancer risk assessment. Researchers have made significant progress in developing new treatments, including mRNA-based immunotherapy for colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Additionally, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge has surpassed $100 million ...
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is spotlighting new trials for colorectal cancer in March, focusing on early detection methods and treatments for treatment delays and loss of appetite. The trials aim to improve patient outcomes, with several enrolling patients with newly diagnosed colon or rectal cancer.
A new clinical study aims to improve communication between patients and families about genetic risks of colorectal cancer. The trial will compare two methods of sharing genetic test results with close relatives, with the goal of learning which approach helps more family members get necessary genetic testing.
The King Center for Lynch Syndrome will advance research, outreach, education, and patient care for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition affecting 1 in 279 individuals. The center will provide cutting-edge research, life-long comprehensive care, and increased awareness for patients and families affected by Lynch syndrome.
Daily aspirin use offers no quick or reliable way to prevent bowel cancer in the general population, increasing risk of serious bleeding. However, it may have potential long-term benefits for people at high genetic risk of colorectal cancer.
A new fecal SDC2 methylation assay, combined with the Asia-Pacific Colorectal Screening Scoring (APCS), demonstrates superior performance in detecting advanced adenomas and stratifying risk. The test's high specificity makes it a valuable tool for prioritizing colonoscopy.
A Singapore study reveals that a specific gene called SERPINE1 drives resistance to chemotherapy and cancer spread in colorectal cancer patients. The findings also identify a molecular signature called RESIST-M, which can predict poorer survival and higher relapse risk, supporting earlier intervention and more targeted follow-up care.
Researchers developed mRNA-encoded nanobodies to combat colorectal cancer, offering new hope for patients resistant to conventional immunotherapies. The treatment demonstrated superior efficacy against sporadic and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
Researchers found that both screening methods lead to more cases of early-stage cancer being detected, especially in the first two years. The study suggests that screening may have a preventive effect by removing precursors to cancer.
Researchers identify UBR5 as a critical tumor suppressor that modulates Snail's stability, facilitating metastasis. UBR5 maintains epithelial phenotype by targeting Snail for degradation, while its deficiency promotes Snail stabilization and metastatic cascade.
Researchers identify PAK1 as a key player in colorectal cancer progression through its ability to stabilize mRNA of oncogenic factors. Targeting PAK1 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion, promoting the degradation of these transcripts and sensitizing tumors to standard-of-care treatments.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have identified a new virus in a common gut bacterium that appears more frequently in patients with colorectal cancer. The study demonstrates a statistical association between the virus and colorectal cancer, but its role is still unclear.
A study by University of Texas at Dallas bioengineers found that both cancerous and noncancerous colon tissue from young patients with colorectal cancer was mechanically stiffer than in older patients. This stiffness may promote the development of early-onset colorectal cancer, a condition rising over the past 30 years.
A new study uses AI to predict which ulcerative colitis patients with low-grade dysplasia are at high risk of developing colorectal cancer. The model integrates risk factors from narrative clinical notes, enabling more accurate and timely surveillance and potentially reducing treatment delays.
Researchers at Sylvester Cancer Institute have identified a potential workaround for chemotherapy resistance by blocking a key protein. The study aims to teach lymphoma patients practical tools to manage stress and improve their daily quality of life through the SMART 3RP Lymphoma study. Meanwhile, the institute is expanding cancer dis...
In a mouse study, researchers successfully used RNA micelles to shrink metastasized tumors in lungs by delivering chemotherapy drugs and an RNA molecule that blocks cancer survival. The treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and improved outcomes for mice with colorectal cancer lung metastasis.
Researchers found OXCT1 to be a key regulator of colorectal cancer liver metastasis, with low expression linked to increased metastasis. OXCT1 suppression promotes oncogenic signaling through the CDK8/beta-catenin complex, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker.
Researchers developed an AI tool called ONCO-ACS to predict the risk of secondary heart attacks in cancer patients after a heart attack. The tool combines cancer-related factors with standard clinical data to provide reliable information for doctors to balance treatment benefits and harms.
A study led by researchers from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute has identified PARG as a new target to enhance chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. Inhibition of PARG significantly increases the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy, leading to enhanced cell death and apoptosis in different colorectal cancer models.
Research reveals that higher lifetime alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer, especially for rectal cancer. Quitting drinking can lower a person’s risk, according to the findings published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal.
Researchers found that TL1A, a key immune signaling protein, stimulates the growth of new white blood cells in the bone marrow, which then promote tumor formation in the gut. The study suggests that blocking TL1A activity could be an effective strategy to treat IBD and prevent associated colorectal tumors.
Cancer mortality rates have decreased for breast cancer and leukemia, despite increasing incidence, while colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of death among US young adults. Colorectal cancer surpasses lung, breast, and prostate cancers as the leading cancer-related death in people under 50 years old.
Predictions for lung cancer death rates among EU and UK women indicate stabilization of mortality rates at 12.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2026. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both sexes in the EU, with mortality rates continuing to decline among men.
Researchers found that NOUS-209 safely stimulated the immune system to target precancerous and cancerous cells in individuals with Lynch Syndrome, providing early evidence of its potential to intercept cancer before it develops. The vaccine-induced T cells were able to kill tumor cells and showed signs of long-lasting immune memory.
Researchers at Umea University have discovered a bacterial toxin, MakA, that can inhibit colorectal cancer growth without causing damage to the body. The substance changes the immune microenvironment in tumors and boosts the immune system's ability to fight cancer.