Columbia Researchers Seek Answers for Rise of Colon Cancer in Younger Patients [Video]

By Alan Dove; Originally published in the CUIMC Newsroom

Key Takeaways:

• Despite overall declines in colon cancer rates, a concerning trend of rising incidence among younger individuals has emerged, prompting a major research effort at Columbia.
• Traditional risk factors like obesity and diet don’t fully explain the increase, leading researchers to explore other environmental factors and genetic causes behind early-onset colon cancer.
• By comparing early-onset and late-onset colorectal tumors, researchers aim to uncover key differences and potential therapeutic opportunities, while emphasizing the importance of awareness and timely diagnosis, especially among younger individuals.

Why has the incidence of colon cancer been rising among healthy young people? It’s one of the biggest mysteries in oncology today, and three physician-scientists at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons are hoping that a major research project they’ve launched will help solve it.

For decades, the overall rate of colon cancer has been on the decline, thanks to screening tools that can detect precancerous polyps …