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The Star
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
An E. coli link to bowel cancer in younger patients
Scientists have found a possible link between a common bacteria and early-onset colorectal cases. — Positive Parenting A toxin produced by Escherichia coli may be driving rates of bowel cancer in young people, scientists have discovered. Experts believe the finding could help explain why rates of bowel cancer are rising among young people across the globe. The bacterial toxin – called colibactin – is capable of altering DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and is produced by a strain of E. coli , though not the strain linked to infections that cause diarrhoea in some people. Researchers found that exposure to colibactin in early childhood imprints a genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may then increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50. Work has been ongoing to discover why more younger people are developing bowel cancer, with experts believing that poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise play a role. This latest study was led by scientists from the University of California, San Diego, (UCSD) in the United States, funded by Cancer Research UK's Grand Challenge and published in the journal Nature . The researchers examined 981 colorectal (bowel) cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. They found that colibactin can leave behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are 3.3 times more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (for the study, this was in adults aged under 40 years) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. These mutation patterns were also particularly common in countries with a higher rate of early-onset bowel cancer. Study senior author and Grand Challenge Mutographs team member Professor Dr Ludmil Alexandrov said: '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.' Study first author and former UCSD postdoctoral researcher Dr Marcos Diaz-Gay shared: 'When we started this project, we weren't planning to focus on early-onset colorectal cancer. 'Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. 'But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases.' The study also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15% of what are known as APC driver mutations – some of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development – in bowel cancer. '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,' Prof Alexandrov said. 'Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age,' said Mutographs team lead and Britain's Wellcome Sanger Institute senior group leader Prof Sir Dr Mike Stratton. 'If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age. 'We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.' – By Jane Kirby/PA Media/dpa
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Common bug could fuel bowel cancer in the young – as scientists pinpoint those at risk
A TOXIN produced by E. coli - which can cause food poisoning - may be driving rates of bowel cancer in young people, scientists have discovered. Experts believe the finding could help explain why rates of bowel cancer are rising among young people across the globe. 2 Exposure to the toxin in early childhood can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50, say the researchers Credit: Getty The bacterial toxin - called colibactin - is capable of altering DNA and is produced by a strain of Researchers, including from the UK and backed by Cancer Research UK, found that exposure to colibactin in early childhood imprints a genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may then increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50. A previous study published in December found rates of bowel cancer in young people are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world. For those aged 25 to 49, England is among the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6 per cent increase every year in the decade up to 2017. Read more on bowel cancer Data provided by Cancer Research UK up to 2019 further suggests that bowel cancer has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in the UK every year and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. Work has been ongoing to discover why more younger people are developing bowel cancer, with experts believing poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise are playing a role. Now in the latest study, led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and published in the journal Nature , researchers have uncovered another possible culprit. Most read in Health Experts examined 981 colorectal (bowel) cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. They found colibactin can leave behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are 3.3 times more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (in the study this was adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. Man, 34, with incurable bowel cancer shared two symptoms he ignored These mutation patterns were also particularly common in countries with a higher rate of early-onset bowel cancer. Senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor at UCSD, said: "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." Study first author Marcos Diaz-Gay, a former postdoctoral researcher, said: "When we started this project, we weren't planning to focus on early-onset colorectal cancer. "Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. "But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases." The study also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15 per cent of what are known as APC driver mutations - some of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development - in bowel cancer. 2 Early detection tests that analyse stool samples for colibactin-related mutations are now being developed Credit: Getty "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," Professor Alexandrov said. Researchers are now developing early detection tests that analyse stool samples for colibactin-related mutations. The director of Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr David Scott, said: "Globally and in the UK, we're witnessing an alarming increase in some types of cancer in people under the age of 50. "It is unlikely that there will be one clear driver but Cancer Grand Challenges scientists are racing to solve this puzzle, and our Mutographs team has uncovered a surprising clue. "Many early-onset colorectal cancer patients appear to have been exposed to a toxin, called colibactin, produced by some strains of the bacteria E. coli in early life. "It's unclear how the exposure originates, but we suspect that a combination of factors - including diet - may intersect during a crucial phase in the development of the "This study adds an important piece to the puzzle of early-onset cancers, but it isn't conclusive, and more research will be needed to establish a definitive link between colibactin and an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. "Other Cancer Grand Challenges teams, like Optimisticc and Prospect, are looking deeper into the microbiome and other environmental factors to uncover what's behind the global rise." Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Mutographs team lead and senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age. "If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age. "We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer." What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
'Striking' discovery that may shed light on bowel cancer spike in young people
Scientists have made a breakthrough discovery that a food bug may be behind the spike in bowel cancer cases in young people. E. coli produces a toxin in the body which may be increasing cases of the cancer around the world, especially in the UK. Colibactin is a bacterial toxin caused by a strain of which is capable of altering DNA. Researchers, including some from the UK backed by Cancer Research UK, found that exposure to colibactin in early childhood can change the DNA of bowel cells, which may then increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50. Data provided by Cancer Research UK up to 2019 suggests that bowel cancer has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s, reported The Mirror. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in the UK every year and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. Experts believe that factors such as poor diet, eating more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise are playing a role in this increase. But in this latest study, led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and published in the journal Nature, researchers have uncovered another possible explanation. Experts examined 981 colorectal (bowel) cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. They found colibactin can leave behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are 3.3 times more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (in the study this was adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. These mutation patterns were also particularly common in countries with a higher rate of early-onset bowel cancer. Senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor at UCSD, said: '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 .' Study first author Marcos Diaz-Gay, a former postdoctoral researcher, said: 'When we started this project, we weren't planning to focus on early-onset colorectal cancer. Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. "But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases.' The study also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15 per cent of what are known as APC driver mutations – some of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development – in bowel cancer. Professor Alexandrov said: '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." The work is part of Cancer Grand Challenges team Mutographs, funded by Cancer Research UK. Researchers are now developing early detection tests that analyse stool samples for colibactin-related mutations. The director of Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr David Scott, said: 'Globally and in the UK, we're witnessing an alarming increase in some types of cancer in people under the age of 50. 'This study adds an important piece to the puzzle of early-onset cancers, but it isn't conclusive, and more research will be needed to establish a definitive link between colibactin and an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer." Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Mutographs team lead and senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: 'We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.'
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Bowel cancer breakthrough as scientists discover possible cause behind spike in young people
Scientists believe they may have found a bacterial toxin in which leaves behind specific patterns of DNA mutation which are present in bowel cancer especially among young people A food bug could be behind a spike in in bowel cancer cases among young people, scientists have discovered. E. coli produces a toxin which may be driving up the rates of the cancer around the globe and especially in the UK. The bacterial toxin – called colibactin – is capable of altering DNA and is produced by a strain of E. coli, though not the strain linked to infection such as diarrhoea in some people. Researchers, including from the UK and backed by Cancer Research UK, found that exposure to colibactin in early childhood imprints a genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may then increase the risk of developing bowel cancer before the age of 50. A previous study published in December found rates of bowel cancer in young people are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world. For those aged 25 to 49, England is among the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6% increase every year in the decade up to 2017. Data provided by Cancer Research UK up to 2019 further suggests that bowel cancer has seen a 52% increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in the UK every year and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. Work has been ongoing to discover why more younger people are developing bowel cancer, with experts believing poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise are playing a role. Now in the latest study, led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and published in the journal Nature, researchers have uncovered another possible culprit. Experts examined 981 colorectal (bowel) cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. They found colibactin can leave behind specific patterns of DNA mutations that are 3.3 times more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (in the study this was adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. These mutation patterns were also particularly common in countries with a higher rate of early-onset bowel cancer. Senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor at UCSD, said: '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.' Study first author Marcos Diaz-Gay, a former postdoctoral researcher, said: 'When we started this project, we weren't planning to focus on early-onset colorectal cancer. Our original goal was to examine global patterns of colorectal cancer to understand why some countries have much higher rates than others. But as we dug into the data, one of the most interesting and striking findings was how frequently colibactin-related mutations appeared in the early-onset cases.' The study also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15% of what are known as APC driver mutations – some of the earliest genetic alterations that directly promote cancer development – in bowel cancer. Professor Alexandrov said: '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." The work is part of Cancer Grand Challenges team Mutographs, funded by Cancer Research UK. Researchers are now developing early detection tests that analyse stool samples for colibactin-related mutations. The director of Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr David Scott, said: 'Globally and in the UK, we're witnessing an alarming increase in some types of cancer in people under the age of 50. 'It is unlikely that there will be one clear driver but Cancer Grand Challenges scientists are racing to solve this puzzle, and our Mutographs team has uncovered a surprising clue. Many early-onset colorectal cancer patients appear to have been exposed to a toxin, called colibactin, produced by some strains of the bacteria E. coli in early life. It's unclear how the exposure originates, but we suspect that a combination of factors – including diet – may intersect during a crucial phase in the development of the gut microbiome. 'This study adds an important piece to the puzzle of early-onset cancers, but it isn't conclusive, and more research will be needed to establish a definitive link between colibactin and an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. Other Cancer Grand Challenges teams, like Optimisticc and Prospect, are looking deeper into the microbiome and other environmental factors to uncover what's behind the global rise.' Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Mutographs team lead and senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: 'Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age. If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age. 'We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.'
Metro
23-04-2025
- Health
- Metro
Toxin caused by common stomach bug could be driving up rates of bowel cancer
A toxin produced by E. coli – the troublesome bug that causes vomiting and fevers – could be behind rising bowel cancer rates. The disease, also called colorectal cancer, predominantly impacts people over 50 though for the last two decades has begun to impact more young people worldwide. Many of these countries are richer nations in the west – including England – with poor diet, obesity and eating too much meat among the risk factors. But exposure to a toxin produced by the bacteria E. coli could also be a factor, researchers revealed today. Exposure to colibactin as a child can mess up the genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may increase the chance of developing bowel cancer when younger than 50, a study published today found. This changes people's digestive tracks and raises the risk of tumours forming, the researches said, with traces of colibactin found lurking in tumours from patients under 40. A study in December of 50 countries between 2007 and 2017 found 27 had seen a sharp rise in bowel cancer cases among young people. In England, those aged 25 to 49 saw a 3.6% increase every year in the decade up to 2017. But data provided by Cancer Research UK up to 2019 suggests this increase has been happening for a lot while longer. Bowel cancer has seen a 52% increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s.. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 every year and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. The research, led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and published in the journal Nature, saw experts examine 981 bowel cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries. Colibactin's specific pattern of DNA mutations were 3.3 more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (in adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70. '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,' said senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor at UCSD. They also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15% of APC driver mutations, one of the first genes to go haywire in bowel cancer. First author Marcos Diaz-Gay, a former postdoctoral researcher, said: '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.' The work is part of Cancer Grand Challenges team Mutographs, funded by Cancer Research UK. The director of Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr David Scott, said the colibactin that seems to be affecting bowel cancer is only produced by some strains of E. Coli. There are many kinds of E. coli, the bulk harmless to humans and are part of a smooth-running intestinal tract. One strain, known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, can be found wriggling in the insentiences of cows and find themselves in faeces, containing farm soil. The strain that coughs out colibactin is not linked to infection such as diarrhoea in some people, the study said. 'It's unclear how the exposure originates, but we suspect that a combination of factors – including diet – may intersect during a crucial phase in the development of the gut microbiome,' said Dr Scott. 'This study adds an important piece to the puzzle of early-onset cancers, but it isn't conclusive, and more research will be needed to establish a definitive link between colibactin and an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer.' Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Mutographs team lead and senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: 'Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age. 'If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age. View More » 'We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Parents handed £35,000,000 after NHS errors left baby with severe brain damage MORE: Baby was 'born twice' after extraordinary operation to save mum's life MORE: Weasel testicles used to cure heartbreaking condition by couples in medieval times
