The colon cancer crisis gripping young people could be fueled by a silent threat hiding in plain sight
Correlation does not imply causation.
Experts studying colon cancer have found another possible cause for the condition. This is significant considering how cases are alarmingly on the rise, especially among younger patients. This discovery could pave the way for earlier detection and even new treatment options.
It is estimated that almost 160,000 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in the US this year, with around 55,000 deaths expected. What’s particularly concerning is that while this disease typically becomes more of a risk with age, studies show an increase of about three percent in those under 50 since 2018. Diagnosing colon cancer can be tough in its early stages because it often doesn’t show many symptoms, making this rise in younger people even more urgent.
According to UNILAD, scientists now believe they might have pinpointed a potential culprit: something called a “prophage.” This is the technical term for when a bacterium itself gets infected with a virus.
The interplay between the virus and the bacterium sparks the change
We often think of viruses as affecting human cells, but they’re so tiny that they can actually infect bacteria. This specific type of virus is known as a “bacteriophage,” and while it doesn’t directly affect human cells, it changes the way the infected bacteria behaves. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital dug into this by examining bacteria samples from 48 individuals who had bloodstream infections.
Half of these patients also had colon cancer. When the teams compared the two groups, they made a fascinating find: all the cancer patients had a specific bacterium, B fragilis, that was infected with two previously unseen prophages, which are essentially viruses. Interestingly, these prophages were totally absent in the patients without cancer.
Dr. Flemming Damgaard, a molecular biologist who headed this research project, said, “We have discovered a virus that has not previously been described and which appears to be closely linked to the bacteria we find in patients with colorectal cancer.” He also emphasized, “It is not just the bacterium itself that seems interesting. It is the bacterium in interaction with the virus it carries.”
In a second part of their study, the researchers broadened their scope, examining stool samples from 877 people across Europe, Asia, and the US. Again, about half of these individuals had colon cancer, and the team found the exact same pattern: the presence of these specific infected bacteria in those with cancer.
It’s worth noting that while this is a super promising discovery, the study authors are quick to point out that what they’ve found so far is an association. They haven’t yet confirmed whether these bacteria and viruses are directly causing the cancer, or if there’s another underlying factor at play. Further research is definitely needed, especially since initial studies of the prophages themselves didn’t show any genes known to directly increase cancer risk.
However, the implications are still huge. Dr. Damgaard believes these findings suggest a “partnership between bacteria and their viruses that may shape disease.” If this is confirmed, he thinks it “may support earlier detection of colorectal cancer and guide new ways to treat and prevent this disease.”
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
