IARC awarded major grant to continue study of increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute (United Kingdom) have been awarded a significant grant by the European Research Council (ERC) to continue their investigations into the causes of early-onset colorectal cancer.

Dr Paul Brennan, Head of the Genomic Epidemiology Branch at IARC, together with Professor Sir Mike Stratton and Dr Trevor Lawley of Wellcome Sanger, previously gathered data – including findings from the Cancer Grand Challenges Mutographs project – suggesting that, in recent decades, exposure to certain gut bacteria in early life may help explain the increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer that is being observed globally. If current trends continue, colorectal cancer is projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young adults globally by 2030.

The new ERC Synergy Grant will enable the team to collect blood, stool, and colorectal tissue samples from more than 3000 people in 10 countries, including individuals with early- and late-onset colorectal cancer and healthy controls, to study tumour tissue and normal tissue. This should reveal whether any patterned changes in DNA, known as mutational signatures, may be linked to bacteria that produce genotoxins (DNA-damaging substances). In parallel, the team will screen bacteria for genotoxic activity and expose gut organoids (miniature versions of laboratory-grown organs) to these strains to confirm associated changes in DNA.

Although colorectal cancer cases are decreasing overall, in the past 20 years there has been a notable increase in early-onset colorectal cancer, which is typically defined as receiving a diagnosis before the age of 50 years. The reasons behind this surge in cases have remained a mystery. The results of this study, which will last 6 years, will help assess the role of bacteria that change or harm DNA in early-onset colorectal cancer and inform new prevention strategies.

Read more about the ERC Synergy Grants