New Yale Study Reveals Clues About the Rise in Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults
- Dec 10
- 2 min read
Doctors and researchers across the U.S. are increasingly concerned by the steady and rapid rise of colorectal cancer (CRC) among people under the age of 50,. CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and a major cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.,. Cases in those aged 20–39 have been rising by about 2% annually since the mid-1990s,. Experts suggest several lifestyle and environmental factors may contribute, including obesity, excessive alcohol intake, lack of physical activity, and high consumption of ultra-processed foods.
A new study from the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, provides crucial insights, revealing that tumors in younger adults may behave fundamentally differently from those in older patients. This research, led by Dr. Caroline Johnson, is the first comprehensive metabolomic comparison of early-onset and late-onset CRC using matched tumor and normal tissues.
The findings strongly suggest that early-onset colorectal cancer has a different biology and may develop through unique biochemical pathways. Dr. Oladimeji Aladelokun, a study author, stated that the research clearly shows that early-onset CRC possesses a distinct biology.
The Yale team focused on metabolites—the small molecules central to body chemistry and energy production. By analyzing frozen tumor samples, researchers found 91 metabolites that differed sharply between normal and cancerous colon tissue.
One specific finding stood out: homovanillic acid, a molecule produced when the body breaks down dopamine, was uniquely decreased in early-onset tumors. While it is unclear if this metabolite directly affects colon health, Dr. Johnson noted it may serve as a marker of disrupted dopamine metabolism in younger patients.
The study also delivered key findings related to cancer treatment response. The researchers discovered that early-onset tumors had significantly lower levels of PD-L1. PD-L1 is a protein often targeted by modern cancer immunotherapies,. Lower PD-L1 expression may indicate that tumors in younger patients create a more immunosuppressive environment, potentially affecting how effectively they respond to existing treatments.
Because obtaining frozen tumor tissue for metabolomic study is rare and difficult, this research is considered especially valuable.
If these findings are confirmed in larger studies, they could eventually guide new screening strategies, allow for earlier diagnoses, and lead to more targeted, personalized treatments for young adults facing colorectal cancer. Dr. Johnson’s lab is currently collecting new samples to confirm these patterns and hopes to eventually validate the findings using blood tests, which would simplify diagnosis and monitoring.
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Keywords: Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults
Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults
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