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Rise in Colon Cancer In Young Adults Tied to E.Coli Exposure in First 10 Yrs of Life
It is not yet clear
But part of the story could be colibactin, a toxin made by certain strains of E. coli and other bacteria. In a study out this week, researchers have identified a strong link between this DNA-damaging toxin and colon cancer among younger patients.
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Strikingly, those under the age of 40 with early-onset colon cancer were three to five times more likely to have these mutations than those in their 70s and older.
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"Our estimate is that it happens within the first 10 years of life," Alexandrov says. "So if you get that mutation at age 5, that puts you 20 to 30 years ahead of schedule for getting colorectal cancer."
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Strikingly, those under the age of 40 with early-onset colon cancer were three to five times more likely to have these mutations than those in their 70s and older.
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"Our estimate is that it happens within the first 10 years of life," Alexandrov says. "So if you get that mutation at age 5, that puts you 20 to 30 years ahead of schedule for getting colorectal cancer."
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/25/g-s1-62623/colon-cancer-gut-health-microbiome-young