Latest news with #Colibactin
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Could This Toxin Be Behind the Rise of Early Onset Colon Cancer?
It's still not clear why colon cancer cases continue to rise among young people — but researchers may have come across a lead. A new study has identified a potential culprit: a toxin called colibactin that's capable of altering DNA. Scientists found that exposure to this gut bacteria in early childhood can lead to mutations within colon cells, which could be what's causing so many young adults to develop colorectal cancer (CRC). Here's a closer look at this fascinating new research and what it tells us about this potential carcinogen. The study, which was published last week in Nature, examined tissue samples from nearly 1,000 CRC patients spread across four continents. The team discovered that colibactin leaves behind a specific pattern of DNA mutations, and that patients who developed the disease before the age of 40 were more than three times as likely to exhibit this genetic hallmark than those who were diagnosed after 70. The researchers were also able to trace when these mutations arose, and the scientists believe that they're most likely acquired by the age of 10. That could put these patients 'decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60,' the study's senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, says. Colibactin is a bacterial toxin that's produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli, or E. coli, and other gut bacteria. Previous studies have shown that the toxin has the potential to damage the DNA of cells within the colon. But this latest research raises the question: If colibactin is triggering CRC-related mutations in childhood, why are more children being exposed to the toxin? Alexandrov tells NBC that 'there are several plausible hypotheses.' One is early antibiotic use, 'which may allow these strains to establish more easily,' he says. Another contributing factor could be the increase in ultraprocessed foods in our diets, the decrease in fiber, and rising rates of C-section births. 'Collectively, these shifts may be tipping the balance towards early-life acquisition of these microbes,' he says. Alexandrov and his team are in the process of developing stool tests to detect colibactin-related mutations and are investigating whether probiotics could help eliminate harmful strains of bacteria. The post Could This Toxin Be Behind the Rise of Early Onset Colon Cancer? appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bacterial toxin implicated In young adult colon cancers
Colon cancer cases have been increasing among younger adults, and now researchers think they've identified a potential culprit. A bacterial toxin called colibactin, produced by certain strains of E. coli, appears to alter gut DNA in a way that prompts colon cancer, researchers report in the journal Nature. Colibactin leaves behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are more than three times as common in early-onset colon cancers, specifically in adults younger than 40 compared to those 70 or older, results show. Researchers suspect colibactin-producing bacteria may be silently colonizing children's colons, setting the stage for cancer in midlife and beyond. "These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease," senior researcher Ludmil Alexandrov said in a news release. He is a professor of bioengineering and cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California-San Diego. Colon cancers have been steadily increasing among people under 50, so much so that guidelines have been updated to lower the age of screening to 45. Colon cancer rates increased by 2.4% a year among people younger than 50 between 2012 and 2021, according to the American Cancer Society. Likewise, death rates in people under 55 have been increasing about 1% a year since the mid-2000s. At the same time, colon cancers have been declining among older adults, thanks to screening methods like colonoscopy, the ACS says. For the new study, researchers analyzed 981 colon cancer samples collected from patients in 11 countries. The analysis revealed that colibactin is a common toxin among these cases, particularly in early-onset colon cancers. The results show that colibactin's damaging effects begin early in tumor development, and account for about 15% of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development. "If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old," Alexandrov explained, "they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60." More research now is needed to figure out how children are being exposed to colibactin-producing bacteria, and what can be done about it, researchers said. The team also is working on an early detection test that could analyze stool samples for colobactin-related mutations. "This reshapes how we think about cancer," Alexandrov said. "It might not be just about what happens in adulthood -- cancer could potentially be influenced by events in early life, perhaps even the first few years. "Sustained investment in this type of research will be critical in the global effort to prevent and treat cancer before it's too late." More information The American Cancer Society has more on colon cancer rates. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colon cancer rates are rising among young people – could changes to children's gut bacteria explain why?
Alarming 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 adolescence to a toxin produced by certain strains of E coli, whose growth is encouraged by highly processed diets, may lay the groundwork for aggressive bowel cancers decades later. This discovery could help explain why people under 50 are at the heart of one of the fastest-growing cancer epidemics of our time. Colon cancer is currently the second biggest cause of cancer death, yet only one in three cases are diagnosed in the earliest stages. Often symptomless in its early forms, colon cancer typically begins as polyps and can take ten to 15 years to develop. This slow progression makes regular screening crucial, especially because many patients experience no early warning signs. For the new research, an international team analysed the complete DNA sequences of 981 colorectal cancer tumours from patients across 11 countries. They discovered striking geographic patterns in the mutations that lead to cancer. Two specific mutational signatures – SBS88 and ID18 – stood out for their association with colibactin, a DNA-damaging toxin produced by some E coli strains. These bacterial 'fingerprints' were 3.3 times more common in patients diagnosed before age 40 than in those over 70. Significantly, these mutations appear early in tumour development, suggesting the damage may occur years – even decades – before cancer is diagnosed. Read more: Colibactin doesn't cause random DNA damage. The study found it tends to target the APC gene, a vital tumour suppressor that normally controls cell growth. In colibactin-positive cancers, about 25% of APC mutations bore the toxin's unique signature. This direct hit to the body's internal 'brake system' could explain why these cancers appear earlier in life. Molecular analysis indicated that colibactin-associated mutations often emerge within the first ten years of life. While this suggests the toxin may silently colonise children's guts and initiate cancerous changes early, it's important to note that this remains a theory; the study didn't directly examine children or young adults. Still, the research maps out a microbial pattern of cancer risk. These gut bacteria are not the same as those that cause food poisoning – they often live within us and perform beneficial roles. But their composition can vary widely by region. Countries including Argentina, Brazil, and Russia – where colorectal cancer rates are climbing – showed higher levels of colibactin-related mutations. This may reflect regional differences in gut microbiomes influenced by diet (particularly ultraprocessed foods), antibiotic use and environmental factors. In contrast, Japan and South Korea, where rates are historically high but stable, showed different mutational patterns, suggesting other causes may dominate there. Perhaps the most provocative finding relates to when this bacterial damage occurs. Unlike lifestyle risks that build up over decades, colibactin seems to strike during a narrow window – when the microbiome is still forming in childhood or early adulthood. Potential triggers could include repeated antibiotic use that disrupts healthy gut bacteria, highly processed diets that favour E. coli growth and urban living that reduces exposure to diverse microbial environments. These findings may also point to new prevention strategies. Screening programs could focus on younger adults carrying these high-risk bacterial strains, using stool tests to detect colibactin genes. Diets high in fibre and low in processed foods might promote a healthier gut microbiome, potentially suppressing harmful bacteria. The research also adds weight to calls for lowering colorectal cancer screening ages worldwide, since many early-onset cases go undetected under current guidelines. While this study is a major step forward, many questions remain. Why do some people carry colibactin-producing bacteria but never develop cancer? How do modern lifestyle factors amplify – or mitigate – these microbial risks? What we do know is that cancer results from the complex interplay between our genes and our environment – including the microscopic world within us. As researchers continue to connect the dots, one thing is clear: the colorectal cancer epidemic of the 21st century may have begun with silent microbial battles in our guts, decades before diagnosis. This emerging view of cancer not just as a genetic or lifestyle disease, but also as a microbial one – could fundamentally reshape how we think about prevention for future generations. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Justin Stebbing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
One Cancer Is Rising Rapidly in Younger People, And Bacteria Could Be Why
Scientists investigating an alarming rise in bowel cancer in young adults have identified the bacterial toxin colibactin as a potential culprit, with childhood exposure perhaps increasing the risk of later cancer development. Colibactin has already been linked to this cancer type, but the relationship hasn't been specifically studied in people under the age of 50 before. It may go some way to explaining why bowel (or colorectal) cancer is on course to be the leading cancer-related cause of death in young adults in the next few years. Analyzing cancer tissue samples from 981 individuals across 11 countries, an international team of researchers looked for cancer-causing mutations in the DNA genome. In more than half of the early-onset cases, these mutations matched up with damage caused by colibactin. "These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease," says computational biologist Ludmil Alexandrov of the University of California San Diego. So how is this exposure happening? The researchers aren't sure, but we do know that colibactin is produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli in the gut, and the data suggests that the damaging exposure probably happens in the first 10 years of life. One of the more likely scenarios is that childhood infections are producing colibactin, which then damages DNA in the bowel. These harmful mutations then make cancer more likely later on, typically long after the colibactin has disappeared. Specifically, colibactin-related DNA mutations were 3.3 times more common in adults diagnosed under the age 40, compared to those diagnosed at age 70 or above. For cancer in older people, the DNA patterns were more often associated with normal aging. "If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60," says Alexandrov. Previous research has identified several associations that could be contributing to the rise in colorectal cancer at a relatively young age. Studies have pointed to ultra-processed food, and too many sugary or alcoholic beverages, for example. Here, the suggestion is that lifestyle or environmental factors very early on in life may also be planting seeds of the disease. Further research is needed to know for sure, though with recent science funding cutbacks in the US, that research is by no means guaranteed. The researchers also want to take a closer look at how colibactin and its related DNA scars could be protected against, as well as how the different factors affecting this kind of cancer risk may vary between countries. "It's possible that different countries have different unknown causes," says computational biologist Marcos Díaz-Gay of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center. "That could open up the potential for targeted, region-specific prevention strategies." The research has been published in Nature. 'Popcorn Lung': Vapers at Risk of Irreversible Disease, Experts Warn Something in The Back of Your Eye Could Reveal Whether You Have ADHD This Ancient Herb Is Trending For Health Benefits, But Beware The Risks
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Colon Cancer on the Rise
What is to blame for the alarming rise of THIS cancer in young people? I'm Tomi Lahren, more next. Colon cancer used to be thought of as an older person issue, but not anymore. According to the American Cancer Society, In the US, the number of people under 55 being diagnosed has nearly doubled over the past decade, and more people are dying from the disease each year. But it's not just the US that's struggling with this phenomenon, colorectal cancer is now on the rise among young people in at least 27 countries. So what is to blame? Well researchers say it could be a toxin called 'Colibactin' which comes from certain strains of E . coli that live in the colon and rectum. The jury is still out on exactly what causes this but possible and connecting factors include mode of birth, breastfeeding, antibiotic use one is most troubling…ultra-processed foods. It's a good thing HHS Secretary RFK Jr is on a mission to Make America Healthy Again. Part of that mission includes banning certain food dyes and pushing for fewer additives in our food supply! We've got to start somewhere! I'm Tomi Lahren and you watch my show 'Tomi Lahren is Fearless' at Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
