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3d ago

Childhood Exposure to E. coli Toxin Linked to Rising Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Rates

A groundbreaking study identifies colibactin, a DNA-altering toxin produced by certain E. coli strains, as a key factor in the global increase of colorectal cancer among adults under 50.

Escherichia coli that resides in the digestive tract of humans and warm-blooded animals.
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E.coli bacteria is part of a normal gut microbiome but some strains can produce toxins

Overview

  • The study, published in Nature, analyzed 981 colorectal cancer genomes across 11 countries and found colibactin-related mutations 3.3 times more common in early-onset cases than in those diagnosed after age 70.
  • Colibactin-related mutations account for approximately 15% of APC driver mutations, some of the earliest genetic changes that promote cancer development.
  • Researchers suggest exposure to colibactin during early childhood, particularly before age 10, may accelerate the timeline for developing colorectal cancer by decades.
  • The findings highlight the need for stool-based screening tests to detect colibactin-related mutations and explore preventive measures such as probiotics or dietary interventions.
  • Colorectal cancer rates in adults under 50 have doubled globally over the past two decades, with projections indicating it could become the leading cause of cancer-related death in this age group by 2030.