UK scientists study historic samples to explain rise in young bowel cancer
British researchers are examining bowel cancer samples preserved for nearly a century to investigate why the disease is increasingly affecting younger people. Using advanced genetic analysis, scientists hope to trace changes in cancer-causing mechanisms over time, including the possible role of harmful gut bacteria, as cases among under-50s continue to rise sharply in the UK and globally.
Bowel cancer rates among young people are rising at an alarming pace, prompting scientists in the UK to turn to century-old medical samples for answers. Researchers are analyzing archived tissue from patients treated in London over decades to understand why the disease, once largely associated with older age, is increasingly diagnosed in younger populations.
Sharp increase among younger age groups
While bowel cancer remains most common in older adults, UK data show a striking rise among younger people. Rates among those under 24 have climbed by around three-quarters since the early 1990s, while diagnoses in the 25–49 age group have increased by more than half. Similar trends have been reported worldwide, but the underlying causes remain uncertain.
A unique medical archive in London
Potential clues lie beneath St Mark’s The National Bowel Hospital in London, where tens of thousands of bowel cancer samples have been carefully stored in paraffin wax. The collection includes tissue and gut bacteria from every patient treated at the hospital, some dating back nearly 100 years. These samples are now being studied at the Institute of Cancer Research using modern molecular techniques.
Focus on DNA damage and gut bacteria
Scientists are searching for distinct DNA “signatures” left by different cancer triggers to see how these patterns have changed over time. One leading theory suggests that certain strains of E. coli, now more common in the gut microbiome of young people, may release toxins that damage bowel tissue and increase cancer risk. By comparing older and newer samples, researchers aim to determine whether this type of damage has become more frequent in recent decades.
Preventing future cases
Experts involved in the study say understanding what has changed is essential for prevention. “Bowel cancer in people under 50 is becoming a growing problem,” said Dr Kevin Monahan of St Mark’s Hospital. Researchers believe the findings could eventually guide new screening strategies and public health measures to curb the rising trend.
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