EOCRC screening can minimize colonoscopies in patients with colon preneoplastic polyps: Study

A new study published in the journal of Cancer Prevention Research showed that an increased risk of colon preneoplastic polyps (PNP) is linked to accelerated aging. Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in the individuals under 50 has been on the rise. The American Cancer Society reports that these rates have increased by 2% every year. Despite the number of cases of early-onset colorectal cancer is increasing, the risk remains minimal. While many are at risk, only a small percentage will develop EOCRC.

After that, the individuals sought to get a colonoscopy to remove any precancerous polyps and so prevent EOCRC. Accelerated biological aging is also linked to risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer, including smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and certain lifestyle choices. By detecting the methylation levels at particular genomic locations that correspond with biological age (BA), epigenetic clocks are able to measure DNA methylation.

Despite the accelerated aging has been linked to the development of cancer, its potential for cancer prevention is yet unknown. One promising explanation for the rise in EOCRC is accelerated aging. This study examined the relationship between preneoplastic polyps (PNP), which include tubular adenomas and sessile serrated adenomas, in the colon and accelerated aging.

A total of 51 patient samples were examined. This study discovered that a year of accelerated aging, as determined by GrimAge, increases the likelihood of having a PNP by 16%. Yet, male sex continued to be the most significant risk factor for PNPs. One of the first studies to examine PNP and accelerated aging in persons under 50 is this one. To address the rise in EOCRC, a risk-stratified strategy to screening would reduce the number of needless colonoscopies and the associated healthcare costs.

According to this research, BA computations using peripheral blood draws may play a significant role in this kind of risk assessment. Overall, there is a chance to create a risk-stratified strategy for screening for colorectal cancer in young people by comprehending the connection between colorectal PNPs and accelerated aging. Despite the small sample size, these results may have significant implications for preventing colon cancer while also offering some explanation for the rise in colon cancer among young individuals.

Reference:

Brown, C. M., Yow, M. V., & Kumar, S. (2024). Biological Age Acceleration and Colonic Polyps in Persons under Age 50. In Cancer Prevention Research (pp. OF1–OF6). American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.capr-24-0317