Causes of increased colon cancer in young people: A recent British study
In an unprecedented scientific endeavor aimed at unraveling one of the most troubling medical mysteries of modern times, a team of researchers in London has launched an ambitious project to compare samples of colorectal tumors dating back to the early 20th century with samples from current patients. This study comes at a time when the world is witnessing a significant and perplexing rise in the incidence of this type of cancer among young people, prompting a look back at the past in search of answers that may safeguard the future of coming generations.
A medical treasure that survived the fire
The story began nearly ten years ago at St. Mark's Specialist Hospital in northwest London, where doctors intervened at the last minute to save thousands of medical samples from being destroyed by incineration. These samples, carefully preserved with formalin and paraffin, now form the cornerstone of a meticulous scientific study led by gastroenterologist Kevin Monahan, in collaboration with Trevor Graham of the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
Since January, researchers have been using advanced laboratory techniques, such as DNA sequencing, to analyze these historical samples, some dating back to the 1960s, and compare them to the genetic and biological makeup of patients' tumors today. The primary goal is to track subtle changes in the nature and causes of the disease over the decades.
A worrying global phenomenon among young people
This study is of paramount importance given the global context of the disease. While colorectal cancer has traditionally been classified as a disease of the elderly, recent statistics indicate a dramatic shift in this pattern. According to Boyle Cancer UK, cases among people under 50 have increased by more than 50% in the last 25 years in the UK alone, a trend consistent with similar medical reports in many other developed countries.
Gut microbes and modern lifestyle
Through this historical comparison, scientists seek to isolate the environmental and biological variables that have impacted human life. Dr. Monahan focuses particularly on the role of the gut microbiome, specifically a subtype of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Hypotheses suggest that this bacterium may be carcinogenic, as traces of it have been found in the DNA of young patients at a rate four times higher than in older adults. This raises questions about the relationship between modern diets, preservatives, and environmental pollutants and the activation of this bacterium.
Experts generally link this increase to radical lifestyle changes, including increased reliance on processed foods, reduced physical activity, and exposure to modern pollutants such as microplastics, factors that were not as prevalent in the middle of the last century.
The importance of early detection and future hope
Despite the alarm these figures raise, modern medicine offers promising news. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) confirms that recovery rates have doubled in the last forty years, with over 90% of cases being successfully treated if diagnosed in their early stages. The researchers hope that the findings, expected to be published within three years, will contribute to the development of new preventative and treatment strategies, transforming the suffering of past generations into a lifeline for future generations.
