Unlocking Century-Old Tumors to Crack the Rise of Young Bowel Cancer

A growing number of young people are being diagnosed with bowel cancer, and scientists are working hard to understand why this is happening. Traditionally, bowel cancer has been a disease that mostly affects older adults, but recent data shows a sharp increase among younger people. In the United Kingdom, for example, the rate of bowel cancer in people under 24 has risen by 75 percent since the early 1990s. Despite this worrying trend, the reasons behind it remain unclear. To investigate, researchers at St Mark's The National Bowel Hospital are turning to a unique collection of cancer samples that have been preserved for up to a century. These samples, stored in wax and kept in the hospital's basement, represent tens of thousands of cases and offer a rare opportunity to study how bowel cancer has changed over time.

One of the young people affected by this trend is Holly, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 23 years old. Holly experienced symptoms like bloating and weight loss, which were initially mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. Her condition worsened until she was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors discovered she had advanced bowel cancer. Holly underwent aggressive chemotherapy, which she described as life-changing and extremely difficult. She now lives with a stoma and requires regular medical check-ups. Although she has been cancer-free for over three years and is looking forward to her wedding, Holly still struggles with the emotional impact of her diagnosis, often feeling overwhelmed and questioning why she was affected at such a young age.

The scientific investigation into the rise of bowel cancer among young people involves advanced molecular analysis of the archived samples. Researchers are examining the DNA of the cancer cells to look for patterns or 'signatures' that might reveal what caused the disease. Some experts believe that lifestyle changes, such as increased consumption of processed foods, rising obesity rates, and greater exposure to antibiotics, could be contributing factors. Others are focusing on the role of gut bacteria, particularly a type of E. coli that may be more common in young people today than in the past. These bacteria could be producing toxins that damage the DNA in bowel tissue, leading to cancer. By comparing the DNA signatures in samples from different decades, scientists hope to identify when and why these changes began. The research team believes that the answers to these questions may be hidden within the hospital's vast archive, and their findings could lead to new ways to prevent and treat bowel cancer in the future.