Pathways and Molecules to Prevent Early-Onset Colorectal Tumors
Official title: MGH- PROSPECT: Pathways, Risk factors, and mOleculeS to Prevent Early-onset Colorectal Tumors
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11514462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH project aims to understand and prevent colorectal cancer that occurs before age 50 by studying lifestyle, biology, and environmental factors that influence risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,475,564 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA297680-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11514462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with a family history or risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer, adolescents and young adults, and patients with adenomatous polyps who may participate in related prevention studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without identified risk factors or those not in age groups studied may not experience direct benefits from this program.
What this research studies
From a patient’s perspective, this program seeks to map how lifetime exposures shape early colorectal cancer risk and identify points where prevention could work best. The team uses a cross-disciplinary approach, moving from cellular models to population-level insights, with a focus on early pre-cancerous polyps as a key interception point. The work aims to translate etiologic understanding into actionable strategies that can reduce the incidence of EOCRC across ages, including adolescents and young adults. By leveraging well-characterized animal models and human data, the project plans to pinpoint mechanisms linking exposures to cancer initiation and promotion. Overall, the effort is designed to pave the way for prevention strategies that could benefit individuals at risk for early-onset colorectal cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to earlier prevention strategies and reduced risk of early-onset colorectal cancer for people with certain exposures or risk factors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior EOCRC research has shown that understanding exposure-related mechanisms can guide prevention, though translating these findings into interventions remains ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Andrew T — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chan, Andrew T
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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.