Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer is cancer that develops in the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) and/or the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine before the anus). In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. Caught early, it is often curable.

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 Management

Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Microbial Dysbiosis and Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

Colorectal Cancer and Organ Preservation

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal Cancer Pathogenesis

Colorectal Cancer Prognosis

Latest Colorectal Cancer News and Research

Scientists link poor sleep to decreased chemotherapy response via the gut

Sleep deprivation has long been known to weaken the immune system. Now UF Health Cancer Institute researchers have made a startling discovery: The gut microbiota drives changes to the immune system caused by chronic sleep loss. These changes promote cancer progression, disrupt circadian rhythm and weaken the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

17 Apr 2026

Liver cancer burden rising globally amid shift to metabolic risks

Primary liver cancer continues to pose a major global health challenge, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

15 Apr 2026

New biomarker predicts prognosis and treatment response in colorectal cancer

Determining the presence of a protein in non-tumor cells within the cancer microenvironment could be one of the keys to establishing prognosis in patients with colon and rectal cancer.

14 Apr 2026

Young cancer survivors face double the risk of later cancers

Survivors of cancer in their teen and young adult years are at double the risk of most types of later cancers, according to research from Alberta published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251381.

13 Apr 2026

Damon Runyon supports young scientists driving cancer research innovation

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 13 new Damon Runyon Fellows, exceptional postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators.

11 Apr 2026

IBS diagnosis gaps persist across racial and gender groups in the U.S.

A national survey study led by UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found significant disparities in how irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is diagnosed across sex and racial groups in the U.S., with men and Black patients considerably less likely than women and white patients to receive a formal diagnosis.

9 Apr 2026

Duloxetine fails to prevent nerve damage caused by chemotherapy

A randomized trial conducted by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology with support from the National Cancer Institute has found that duloxetine, a medication commonly used to treat chronic pain and psychiatric conditions, does not prevent nerve damage caused by chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

8 Apr 2026

New strategy exploits specific genetic vulnerability in colorectal cancer patients

Researchers have identified a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer by exploiting a specific genetic vulnerability found in a majority of patients.

6 Apr 2026

Study finds increasing rates of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia

Some therapies used to treat cancer may increase the risk of later developing cancers that affect the blood.

6 Apr 2026

Stard7 plays unexpected role in intestinal cancer development

A new study led by researchers at the University of Liège highlights the unexpected role of Stard7 in the development of intestinal cancers.

2 Apr 2026

Gut-derived metabolites regulate immune cells in complex ways

Published on March 23, 2026, in Volume 2, article number 18 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation, the review begins by systematically outlining the sources and synthetic pathways of immune-relevant microbial metabolites, including bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, vitamins, trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, and odd-chain fatty acids.

31 Mar 2026

Study reveals ALDH2 vulnerability in APC-deficient colorectal cancer

A precision cancer strategy that selectively kills tumour cells while leaving healthy tissue intact may be within reach for the majority of colorectal cancer patients, according to new research published in Genes & Disease.

30 Mar 2026

Community health fair promotes cancer awareness and preventive screenings

Ochsner Health welcomed Iberville Parish residents and families on Saturday, March 28 for the Iberville Parish Health Fair & Community Celebration, a no-cost community event focused on cancer awareness and prevention, and access to care close to home.

30 Mar 2026

Chronic colitis reshapes colon stem cells in ways that can accelerate tumour growth

Researchers showed that chronic colitis leaves a long-lasting epigenetic memory in colonic stem cells, persisting for more than 100 days after recovery in mice. This memory is marked by durable AP-1-linked chromatin changes and later amplifies tumour outgrowth after oncogenic mutation.

29 Mar 2026

Advanced endoscopic technique successfully treats early-stage colorectal cancer

In the months before his wedding, Queens resident Roberto Pineda Sanchez noticed persistent rectal bleeding, a dangerous symptom he almost ignored.

27 Mar 2026

Immunotherapy plus chemotherapy improves outcomes in stage III dMMR colon cancer

A new study from researchers at the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) shows that patients with stage III colon cancer with deficient deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (dMMR) had significantly better outcomes when the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) was added to standard chemotherapy after surgery.

25 Mar 2026

Chronic inflammation leaves epigenetic scars that increase future cancer risk

Chronic inflammation can raise a person's risk of cancer, and a new study reveals key details about how that might happen in the gut and points to better ways to identify and reduce risk.

25 Mar 2026

Primerdesign partners with Origin Sciences to create novel rectal mucosal extraction workflow

Primerdesign (part of the Novacyt Group), a company focused on the design, manufacture, validation and supply of nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR kits, and Origin Sciences (Origin), a company pioneering the detection and diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) disease through an unprecedented focus on a unique biospecimen: rectal mucus; today announced a strategic partnership to create a new protocol that optimizes DNA extraction from novel rectal mucosal samples.

From Primerdesign 25 Mar 2026

Digital decision support tool improves outcomes in colorectal surgery

Research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology provides robust evidence for the use of a digital visualization and decision support tool in colorectal (bowel) surgery.

23 Mar 2026

Study explores if wastewater can track colorectal cancer at population level

A proof-of-concept study shows that cancer-linked RNA can be detected in wastewater, raising the possibility of tracking colorectal cancer patterns across communities without relying on individual screening.

19 Mar 2026