How gut bacteria may drive colorectal cancer in younger adults
Pathogenesis of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: Microbiome Contributions and Mechanisms
This project looks at whether specific gut microbes and mucus-invading bacterial biofilms are linked to colorectal cancer in people younger than 50 years old.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169713 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare the gut microbiome and colon tissue from people with early-onset colorectal cancer to age-matched controls using genetic sequencing and biofilm analysis. They will examine blood for antibody responses to bacteria and biofilm components. The team will analyze archived samples going back decades and enroll new patients and controls in prospective cohorts. Laboratory models will be used to test whether microbial exposures change colon cell behavior in ways that could promote cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 and age-matched volunteers without cancer who can provide tissue, stool, and blood samples.
Not a fit: People whose cancer began after age 50 or those unable or unwilling to provide biological samples are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal microbial markers or mechanisms that help with earlier detection, prevention, or new treatments for colorectal cancer in younger adults.
How similar studies have performed: Related work has shown biofilms on older-onset colorectal cancers and that biofilm-associated bacteria can cause tumors in mice, but the microbiome in early-onset colorectal cancer is a newer and less explored area.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sears, Cynthia — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sears, Cynthia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.