Researchers used gene sequencing technology to compare tissue samples from 136 colon cancer patients younger than 50 with samples from 130 average-age patients. Among the younger cohort, researchers found unique tumor-related bacteria and that they were more likely to have left-sided, rectal and advanced stage tumors.
In the U.S., cancer diagnosis rates among people under 50 have jumped to 107.8 per 100,000 people by 2019, up 13% from the rate in 2000. Colon cancer trends have been particularly concerning as the proportion of colon cancer diagnoses among people younger than 55 increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.
“The unexplained rise of young-onset colorectal cancer is of great concern,” Alok Khorana, MD, an oncologist at Cleveland Clinic and primary author on the study, said in a Feb. 5 news release. “Our team discovered that bacteria were more abundant and compositionally distinct in tumors from young-onset patients. These insights help us better understand the disease causes and inform new prevention approaches, diagnostic markers, and therapeutic targets.”
