An international study led by scientists from the University of California, San Diego, has uncovered a potential connection between childhood exposure to the toxin colibactin and the increasing number of bowel cancer cases in individuals under 50. Colibactin is produced by certain strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), which can colonize the human gut, reports the Baltimore Chronicle with reference to The Guardian.
As part of the research, the DNA of 981 bowel cancer tumors from 11 countries across North and South America, Asia, and Europe was analyzed. Among them, 132 samples came from patients under 50. It was found that mutations associated with colibactin occurred three times more often in patients under 40 compared to those over 70.
The researchers suggest that exposure to colibactin-producing E. coli strains in childhood, particularly before the age of 10, may increase the risk of developing bowel cancer later in life. In the United States and the United Kingdom, around 30-40% of children are carriers of such bacterial strains.
While the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it highlights the need for further research into how E. coli is transmitted, the impact of diet, and potential preventive measures such as the use of probiotics.
In the past two decades, the incidence of bowel cancer among individuals under 50 has doubled in many countries. It is projected that by 2030, this form of cancer could become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this age group.
More than half of bowel cancer cases are considered preventable through lifestyle changes, including increasing fiber intake, reducing processed meat consumption, controlling weight, limiting alcohol intake, and boosting physical activity. However, the new findings about colibactin’s role add another dimension to understanding the causes of early-onset bowel cancer.
Earlier we wrote that fiber helps reduce the risk of cancer.