Colon Cancer

Every year, about one million new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed worldwide. About 150,000 new cases are detected each year in the United States. Over a lifetime, about 1 in 19 people develop colon cancer and nearly 50,000 people are expected to die from it in the U.S. this year.

What Causes Colorectal Cancer?

Cancer occurs when a normal cell divides and multiples uncontrollably. Normally cells are regulated in their growth, maturity, division and death by the DNA present in their nucleus. With damage to the DNA the cells may become rogue and multiply uncontrollably to give rise to tumors.

Colorectal Cancer Prevention

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal Cancer Management

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

Colorectal Cancer Prognosis

Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Latest Colon Cancer News and Research

New reviews highlight urgent need for GI cancer screening in younger adults

Early-onset gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are rising at alarming rates worldwide and, in the U.S., are increasing faster than any other type of early-onset cancer, including breast cancer, according to two recent literature reviews from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

17 Jul 2025

Maybe it’s not just aging. Maybe it’s anemia.

Gary Sergott felt weary all the time. "I'd get tired, short of breath, a sort of malaise," he said. He was cold even on warm days and looked pale with dark circles under his eyes.

17 Jul 2025

OmicsTweezer offers breakthrough in analyzing tumor microenvironments

Researchers have developed a powerful new tool that makes it easier to study the mix of cell types in human tissue, which is crucial for understanding diseases such as cancer.

17 Jul 2025

New RNA-based liquid biopsy detects early colorectal cancer with high accuracy

Liquid biopsies are tests that detect signs of cancer through a simple blood draw. Unlike traditional biopsies, which require removing a piece of tissue, a liquid biopsy typically looks for mutations or modification changes in fragments of DNA from cancer cells circulating in the blood.

8 Jul 2025

Early-onset gastrointestinal cancer rates rising across the globe

A new paper in BJS, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that early-onset gastrointestinal cancer rates are rising dramatically across the globe.

8 Jul 2025

Evolutionary mutation weakens human immune response to solid tumors

New research from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has uncovered an evolutionary change that may explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumors compared to non-human primates.

3 Jul 2025

New KRAS mutation discovery opens door to targeted colon cancer therapies

Scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified a mutation in a common oncogene - a gene that can cause cancer - that may play an important role in colon cancer. Researchers also showed how this mutation could be targeted therapeutically.

24 Jun 2025

Tumor collagen structure may help explain racial disparities in cancer outcomes

In cancer care, accurate tools for predicting whether a tumor will spread (metastasize) can help patients receive the most appropriate treatments.

15 Jun 2025

Bringing microbiome science into everyday clinical care

The article summarizes results of research and possible future clinical applications of the microbiome and provides instructions for doctors.

13 Jun 2025

Eliminating stellate cells reduces liver metastasis in mouse models

The prestigious journal Hepatology Communications reports on the discovery by the Cancer and Translational Medicine research group of the University of the Basque Country (EHU).

10 Jun 2025

Global cancer experts gather in Kenya to improve care across Sub-Saharan Africa

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-an alliance of leading cancer centers in the United States-is joining the African Cancer Coalition (ACC) to update cancer treatment recommendations during the American Cancer Society (ACS) 2025 Global Academy Regional Workshop: Sub-Saharan Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, June 9-11.

10 Jun 2025

Two patients faced chemo. The one who survived demanded a test to see if it was safe.

JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple, while in the care of New York City's renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, swallowed the first three chemotherapy pills to treat her squamous cell carcinoma on Jan. 29, her family members said. They didn't realize the drug could kill her.

4 Jun 2025

Exercise after chemo key for colon cancer survival, study finds

Post-chemotherapy exercise significantly boosts disease-free survival in colon cancer patients, underscoring the importance of structured physical activity.

3 Jun 2025

Anti-inflammatory diet linked to longer survival in colon cancer patients

Patients with colon cancer who consumed an anti-inflammatory diet during a phase 3 clinical trial showed longer overall survival post-treatment compared to those on a proinflammatory diet, according to a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute analysis.

1 Jun 2025

Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy after surgery improves survival in colon cancer

Colon cancer is the third most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S., and while screening has helped detect and prevent colon cancer from spreading, major advancements in treating colon cancer have lagged.

1 Jun 2025

Muscle wasting in cancer tied to blood vessel dysfunction

A dysfunction in muscle blood vessels could be to blame for the weak muscles and weight loss that most cancer patients experience, according to a new study from University of Illinois Chicago researchers.

29 May 2025

New insights reveal EGFR as a target in KRAS-mutated colon cancer

KRAS mutations are among the most common genetic alterations in cancer and are considered particularly difficult to treat.

26 May 2025

New AI blood test tracks pancreatic cancer treatment response

An artificial intelligence technique for detecting DNA fragments shed by tumors and circulating in a patient's blood, developed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigators, could help clinicians more quickly identify and determine if pancreatic cancer therapies are working.

22 May 2025

Oxygen deficiency in the colon cancer microenvironment can promote tumor growth

To effectively battle cancer, scientists must study the battlefield. Now, in a recent study published in Nature Communications, a multi-institutional research team including The University of Osaka has discovered some crucial intel: localized oxygen deficiency in the colon cancer microenvironment can promote tumor growth.

21 May 2025