Toxin exposure increases the risk of colorectal cancer among younger adults, the study finds

Amid the alarming trend of colorectal cancer cases that rise among young people, a new study has identified a potential source.

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego have linked a bacterial toxin called colibactin with the increase in early start cases.

Colibactin is produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that exist in the colon and rectum, according to researchers.

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Exposure to bacterial toxin during early childhood can alter the DNA of colon cells in a way that increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer before 50 years, the study found.

The study, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, was published in Nature Nature magazine on April 23.

“The key conclusion is that colibactin exposure is probably an important taxpayer to early starting cancer,” said the Bioengineering Bioengineering of Shu Chien-Gene and the UC Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department of UC San Diego, said News Digital.

“They could be ahead of decades to develop colorectal cancer.”

In the study, the researchers analyzed 981 colorectal cancer genomes of patients with early starting cancer and late onset in 11 countries.

It was discovered that those who had previous exposure to colibactin had specific mutations in their DNA, which has been shown to occur mainly in the first decade of life: “place children on an accelerated path towards the development of cancer as young adults.”

That group was 3.3 times more likely to develop early starting cancer compared to those who were diagnosed after 70.

It was found that these mutations represent 15% of early genetic alterations that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

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“We detect the mutational colibactin firm in more than 50% of colorectal tumors of patients under 40, compared to less than 10% in tumors of older individuals,” said Alexandrov.

“If someone acquires one of these driver mutations for when he is 10 years old, he could be decades ahead to develop colorectal cancer, obtaining it at age 40 instead of 60,” Alexandrov said.

The fact that a microbial exposure in the first years of life can leave a “lasting genomic imprint” and probably contribute to cancer in adulthood is “remarkable and Aleccuador,” according to the researcher.

“It is a reminder that there is likely that there are many other exhibitions of this type that we still have to discover, and that the way we nurture and protect children during these years of training can have long -term implications for their lifelong health,” he told News Digital.

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“From my perspective, investing in the prevention of early life, healthy life and research is not only important, it is essential.”

Dr. Emil Lou, MD, PHD, oncologist certified by the Board and Medical of Internal Medicine of the University of Minnesota, agrees that the microbioma-“the constellation of microbes that includes bacteria that live under normal circumstances in our intestine”-it is a possible culprit of early colorectal cancer.

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“It is less surprising now than a decade ago than any form of bacteria, more specifically, a toxin derived from bacteria, could be associated and potentially being the main cause of cancer,” said Lou, who did not participate in the study, News Digital.

“What is especially worrying is the long period of time that could free between exposure to early bacteria in life, and time before diagnosing related cancer.”

Potential limitations

Alexandrov said the study provides “strong genomic evidence” of a “surprising association” between colibactin and early starting cancer, but cannot prove causality.

“Demonstrating an unequivocal causality, demonstrating that colibactin alone is enough to start cancer in humans, it is still a significant challenge,” News Digital told News.

“The definitive causality test would require long -term prospective studies that begin in early childhood to monitor microbial colonization and track cancer development for several decades.”

Lou agreed with this limitation, pointing out the complexity of cancer factors.

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“There are many aspects of our environment, both inside and outside our bodies, which can play a role in the development of cancer,” he said. “It is difficult to say or conclude whether any unique factor, in this case, the toxin derived from bacteria, is the true or even an important cause of colorectal cancer.”

“Providing evidence of a potential association establishes the deepest basis for determining whether there is a true cause and effect,” Lou added.

“If current trends continue, it is projected that colorectal cancer becomes the main cause of death related to cancer among young adults by 2030”.

Alexandrov said that although the findings still do not guarantee changes in detection or treatment guidelines, they do highlight the “critical role of the microbial exhibitions of early life” in terms of long -term cancer risk.

“We are actively working on the development of detection tests to detect the long -term effects of exposure to colibactin, with the aim of translating these findings into practical prevention strategies in the near future,” he added.

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Cases of colorectal cancer have doubled among adults under 50 for each of the last two decades, according to statistics.

“If current trends continue, it is projected that colorectal cancer becomes the main cause of death related to cancer among young adults by 2030,” the researchers concluded.