{"id":9116,"date":"2026-05-08T13:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9116"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:00:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:00:36","slug":"scientists-pinpoint-how-toxic-bacteria-in-the-gut-causes-colon-cancer-as-disease-surges-in-under-50s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=9116","title":{"rendered":"Scientists pinpoint how toxic bacteria in the gut causes colon cancer – as disease surges in under 50s"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Scientists have finally learnt how a common gut bacteria fuels colon cancer<\/a>, paving the way for preventative treatments that can protect the organ from early damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2009, a landmark study found that bacteroides fragilis drives tumour formation by secreting a toxin that damages the lining of the colon, potentially leading to cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But until now, the exact mechanism the toxin uses to attack cells remained a mystery.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now a team of US researchers have uncovered the missing link, paving the way for better detection and treatment of a disease surging in under 50s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The toxic bacteria must first bind to a host receptor, dubbed claudin-4, before it can cause damage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘We’ve made several attempts over time to identify the receptor, so this is an exciting moment,’ Professor Cynthia Sears, study lead author from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Understanding how bacterial toxins work can open doors to new approaches for detection and therapy for associated diseases, including diarrhea, colorectal cancer and bloodstream infections.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

The discovery has already led to an intervention that successfully blocked the toxin’s effects in animal models. Now the race is on to do the same in humans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Toxic bacteria triggers chronic inflammation in the gut by attacking protein cells that protect the colon’s delicate barrier\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The common gut bacteria is present in around 20 per cent of healthy individuals – and has a powerful ability to trigger colon inflammation and tumour growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer claims over 17,000 lives each year in the UK alone. Rates in under 50s continue to climb, increasing by 75 per cent in under-24s since the 1990s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But scientists are yet to identify a single smoking gun – with poor diets, increasing obesity levels and exposure to microplastics thought to be major contributors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer is typically diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment is difficult, because it causes few symptoms early on – which are often mistaken for less serious problems like IBS.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The scientists hope their finding will pave the way for earlier detection – and one day inform treatment for bacteria-associated diseases including colon cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The study – published in the journal Nature – tested thousands of genes to find out which ones affect cancer growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Previous research found the bacteria triggers chronic inflammation in the gut by attacking protein cells essential for maintaining the colon’s protective barrier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the bacteria didn’t seem to be attaching itself to the protein directly. Some other elusive mechanism was at play.\u00a0<\/p>\n