{"id":9796,"date":"2024-03-25T13:22:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T12:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/colon-cancer-causes-diagnosis-and-new-research-avenues\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T10:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T08:08:34","slug":"colon-cancer-causes-diagnosis-and-new-research-avenues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/colon-cancer-causes-diagnosis-and-new-research-avenues\/","title":{"rendered":"Colon cancer: causes, diagnosis, and new research avenues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Numerous studies show that colon cancer is one of the most frequent in Spain. However, when detected in time, it usually has a good prognosis, as with early diagnosis, the probability of recovery is 90%<\/strong>. Read on to discover more about this type of cancer, its risk factors, and the research advances that will be developed in the coming years. <\/p>\n\n

What is colon cancer?<\/h2>\n\n

Colon cancer originates from a precursor condition called a colon polyp<\/strong>, which is initially harmless and consists of a small accumulation of cells lining the mucosal layer of the colon.<\/p>\n\n

However, over time, some of these polyps can undergo transformations and develop malignant cells, leading to the development of colon cancer.<\/p>\n\n

What has been discovered so far about colon cancer?<\/h2>\n\n

In recent years, we have been able to identify new mechanisms involved in the development of tumors, especially in the field of colorectal cancer<\/strong> and gastrointestinal tumors<\/strong>, which have led to the design of more effective targeted therapies and have marked a significant milestone in the treatment of this disease.<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  • One of the most relevant advances has been the subclassification<\/strong> of gastrointestinal tumors, based on genomic<\/strong> and transcriptomic data<\/strong>, as it provides highly individualized information. These data not only offer perspectives on the prognosis of the disease but are also predictive regarding which treatments may be effective, significantly impacting clinical decision-making and increasing the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. <\/li>\n
  • On the other hand, liquid biopsy<\/strong>, already applicable to the research of many other types of cancer, has become essential in monitoring colon cancer during treatment, being applicable to the diagnosis of resistance mechanisms to specific treatments and offering a response to therapeutic interventions, early diagnosis, and the development of immunotherapy strategies.<\/li>\n
  • At the same time, it has been shown that the most common mutation of the BRAF protein (BRAFV600)<\/strong>, linked to colorectal cancer resistance, also occurs in other types of tumors. With a dual drug combination, it responds to treatment, improving the outcome for patients who previously faced a poorer survival prognosis. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

    Risk factors and development of this type of cancer. What can we do? <\/h2>\n\n

    The formation of colon polyps can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase the risk<\/strong>, especially after age 50, in cases of overweight and smoking, and\/or if there is a family or personal history related to these conditions.<\/p>\n\n

    In the context of digestive tumors, it is believed that diet plays a crucial role<\/strong>, as current trends indicate a shift toward less healthy eating patterns, affecting the microbiome\u2014the bacterial composition we have in our bodies. The EPIC Study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition), which involved ten European countries, including Spain, concluded that the consumption of fiber, fruits, and vegetables plays a positive role in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Caring for the microbiome can be key in both cancer prevention<\/strong> and infection control, although this field still requires more research to determine the direct relationship and the extent to which this relationship affects outcomes. <\/p>\n\n

    In addition to diet, maintaining good physical condition<\/strong> is also highlighted as a crucial element, as it contributes to reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including colon cancer. It is important to engage in physical activities, even if they are of moderate intensity. <\/p>\n\n

    Of course, alcohol consumption and smoking<\/strong> have a direct negative impact on our bodies, increasing the likelihood of suffering from cancer, as well as many other diseases and pathologies.<\/p>\n\n

    Finally, the influence of genetic and environmental factors<\/strong> cannot be overlooked, as they play a significant role in the development of colorectal cancer. Being aware of this condition and anticipating it by participating in early detection programs<\/strong> will be decisive in the prognosis of this disease. <\/p>\n\n

    What are its symptoms and how is it diagnosed?<\/h2>\n\n

    Generally, colon polyps do not necessarily manifest evident symptoms. For this reason, conducting early detection tests for colorectal cancer is crucial and has been supported by numerous studies that have shown a significant reduction in both incidence and mortality. An <\/p>\n\n

    early detection can increase the probability of survival by up to six times<\/p>\n\n

    , and if an<\/p>\n\n

    early diagnosis<\/p>\n\n

    is made, up to<\/p>\n\n

    90% of patients have a probability of being cured<\/p>\n\n

    , as colon polyps identified in their early stages can usually be removed safely and completely. When symptoms do arise, the most common include <\/p>\n\n

    changes in bowel habits<\/p>\n\n

    , such as the appearance of diarrhea or constipation, visible presence of blood in the stool, a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, persistent abdominal pain, discomfort or cramping, as well as unexplained weight loss without other evident causes. If a person experiences any of these symptoms or perceives that something is not working correctly, it is recommended that they consult their doctor immediately. Even so, the most effective preventive measure against colon cancer involves participation in screening programs that include <\/p>\n\n

    fecal blood tests<\/p>\n\n

    . In the event of a positive result, it is recommended to perform a<\/p>\n\n

    colonoscopy<\/p>\n\n

    to identify and manage potential polyps or tumors in their initial stages. This comprehensive approach contributes to minimizing risk and maintaining colon health. <\/p>\n\n

    What lines of research will we see soon?<\/h2>\n\n

    Through a multidisciplinary approach and the integration of various treatments, a reduction in the invasiveness of surgeries has been achieved, with increasingly encouraging prognoses. Future advances will continue along this same line, tracing new paths toward a cure for cancer. <\/p>\n\n

    At the Vall d\u2019Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), for example, they have been pioneers in the use of liquid biopsy<\/strong>. This innovative approach, which focuses on the identification of circulating tumor DNA, will continue to be developed in the effective search for predictive biomarkers of response in patients with colorectal cancer. <\/p>\n\n

    Another field of research where we will see great progress is in microbiome alterations<\/strong>, whose imbalance can contribute to the development of diseases, including various types of cancer. There is a clear need to understand and normalize its composition to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. <\/p>\n\n

    The study of genes<\/strong> has also revealed much valuable information about cancer biology<\/strong>, but the jump from genetic data to cellular behavior is not always direct, so there is still much to investigate. Understanding the alterations in proteins generated from DNA is presented as a crucial approach to developing personalized treatments, known as precision medicine. <\/p>\n\n

    As in many other fields, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is projected as an essential tool in the research sector, allowing for the analysis of large patient datasets and the establishment of tumor behavior patterns<\/strong>, thereby optimizing medical care and advancing cancer research. It is true, however, that the ethical use of AI and the need for universal consensus for its application are fundamental. <\/p>\n\n

    Thanks to multidisciplinary management<\/strong>, with the integration of all these treatments, surgeries are becoming less aggressive and the prognosis is increasingly better. Cancer treatment must be approached from a multidisciplinary point of view, encompassing both medical treatment and the physical and emotional well-being of the patient. Psycho-oncology, rehabilitation, and nutrition must be present, as well as continuous support for patients throughout the entire process of the disease. <\/p>\n\n

    Considering all these aspects and placing trust in recent advances, we can glimpse with hope and certainty a promising future in the search for a cure for cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Numerous studies show that colon cancer is one of the most frequent in Spain. However, when detected in time, it usually has a good prognosis, as with early diagnosis, the probability of recovery is 90%. Read on to discover more about this type of cancer, its risk factors, and the research advances that will be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Colon cancer: keys and advances for prevention","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how early detection of colon cancer achieves a 90% cure rate and learn about risk factors and advances in therapies.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[139,214],"class_list":["post-9796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outreach-and-prevention","tag-colon-cancer","tag-risk-factors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9796"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9798,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9796\/revisions\/9798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ferocancer.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}