Archive · 26 Dec 2025
Colon Stiffness Linked to Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Scientists found that people who get colon cancer before they're 50 often have stiffer colons.
This stiffness might be caused by scarring from long-term inflammation.
The study looked at tissue from patients and found that the colon tissue in younger patients was harder and had more of a protein called collagen.
This could help doctors find new ways to prevent and treat colon cancer in younger people.
Colon stiffness linked to increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC).
Early-onset CRC incidence and deaths have risen dramatically in the last three decades.
Study found stiffer tissue in early-onset CRC patients compared to average-onset.
Collagen in early-onset samples was denser, longer, more mature, and more aligned.
Gene activity in early-onset CRC tissues showed increased expression related to collagen metabolism, blood vessel formation, and inflammation.
- Who
- Researchers from the University of Texas - Dallas and Southwestern Medical Centre
- What
- Study on the link between colon stiffness and early-onset colorectal cancer
- When
- Study published in the journal Advanced Science
- Where
- University of Texas - Dallas and Southwestern Medical Centre
- Why
- To understand the role of biomechanical forces in early-onset CRC
- Study Focus
- Role of biomechanical forces in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC)
- Key Finding
- Stiffer colon tissue in early-onset CRC patients compared to average-onset
- Sample Size
- 19 average-onset CRC samples, 14 early-onset CRC samples
- Collagen Differences
- Denser, longer, more mature, and more aligned in early-onset samples
- Gene Activity Increase
- Genes related to collagen metabolism, blood vessel formation, and inflammation
