25/08/2025
Colon cancer is increasing among people under 55, and new research points to a surprising culprit: a bacterial toxin called colibactin that damages DNA. Scientists analyzing nearly 1,000 cancer genomes worldwide found that colibactin-related mutations are 3.3 times more common in patients under 40 than in those over 70. Alarmingly, these mutations often appear within the first decade of life, suggesting that some children may unknowingly begin a path toward cancer decades before symptoms arise.
Colibactin is produced by certain E. coli strains living in the gut. Experts believe modern lifestyle factors—such as antibiotics, processed foods, reduced breastfeeding, C-sections, and group childcare—may help these harmful bacteria settle in early. While exact causes are still being studied, this discovery is a major breakthrough in understanding why colon cancer is rising in younger populations.
Researchers are now developing stool tests to detect these DNA mutations early and exploring probiotics to remove colibactin-producing bacteria from the gut. Focusing on childhood gut health could transform cancer prevention strategies and provide a chance to intervene long before traditional screening begins.
This finding highlights the critical connection between gut microbiome and long-term health, showing that maintaining a healthy gut from an early age may be a key step in preventing serious diseases like colon cancer.
