US EditionToxin produced by E. coli ‘could be driving bowel cancer rates in young people’
- An international team led by UC San Diego published on April 23, 2025, a study linking a toxin from E. Coli to rising early-onset colorectal cancer worldwide.
- The study examined the genetic data of colorectal cancer tumors from 981 patients across 11 countries to explore the reason behind the doubling incidence of colorectal cancer among adults under 50 every decade.
- Researchers discovered that DNA mutations caused by colibactin, a toxin produced by certain E. Coli strains, appear at a rate over three times higher in individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 40 compared to those diagnosed after 70.
- Professor Ludmil Alexandrov explained that if an individual develops one of these key mutations by around age 10, it could lead to colorectal cancer emerging many years earlier than usual, potentially around age 40 instead of the typical age of 60.
- This finding suggests early exposure to colibactin may initiate mutations that increase young-onset colorectal cancer risk, highlighting a need for further research and preventive strategies.
130 Articles
130 Articles
Cancer survival has increased dramatically. Two-thirds of cancers occur after the age of 65.
Damage from gut bacteria may play a role in the rise in colon cancer in young adults
It’s unclear why colon cancer cases have doubled in people under 55 over the past two decades, a staggering rise that has alarmed doctors and cancer researchers.But part of the story could be colibactin, a toxin made by certain strains of E. coli and other bacteria. In a study out this week, researchers have identified a strong link between this DNA-damaging toxin and colon cancer among younger patients.The team, based at the University of Calif…
A recent published study illustrates a warning signal with regard to the increase in the number of young people who do colorectal cancer. Thus, according to experts, the number of people under 50 years of age who...
A bacterial toxin could be contributing to the colorectal cancer rise in young people
Colorectal cancer has increased significantly over the past 20 years among adults under 50. Now scientists may have identified a potential factor in the rise: a toxin called colibactin. Exposure to the toxin happens in childhood and could be manipulating DNA to increase cancer risk. Toxin timeline Colibactin was linked to colorectal cancer cases in younger people, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The toxin has been known to …
Traces of E. coli found in Edinburg school floorboards, students relocating
EDINBURG — Edinburg CISD held a news conference Monday at Canterbury Elementary School, after canceling school for the day, where the district confirmed trace amounts of E. coli in the floorboards of some of the school’s classrooms. Legal counsel for the district, Benjamin Castillo, said third party testing found trace amounts of E. coli, from a flood sewage overflow, during cleaning efforts over the weekend. “Crews discovered that an area previ…
Colon cancer rates are rising among young people – could changes to children’s gut bacteria explain why?
Irina WS/ShutterstockAlarming trends show that colon – or bowel – cancer is increasing in younger people. If the rise continues, colorectal cancer is projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young adults globally by 2030. Until recently, the reasons for this surge were largely unclear or unknown. Now research points to a surprising suspect: gut bacteria. A recent study reveals that exposure during childhood or adolesc…
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