Experts discover new possible cause of colon cancer as rates in young people surge

Experts studying colon cancer have found another possible cause for the condition as cases rise among younger patients.

Each year, the US has around 160,000 cases of colon cancer, with around 55,000 deaths from the health condition.

But alarmingly, it appears that the condition is now affecting one patient cohort more than others - younger people.

Cancer generally becomes more of a risk as we get older, but recent studies have shown an increase of about three percent in people under 50 since 2018.

Now, scientists studying the condition have found a potential cause for colon cancer.

This is something called a 'prophage', which is the technical term for when a bacteria gets infected with a virus.

The condition is on the rise in younger patients (Alvaro Medina Jurado/Getty)

While we might think of them as both being very small, viruses are much smaller than bacteria, so small that yes it is possible for a bacteria itself to become infected with a virus.

This is something called a 'bacteriophage', which doesn't itself affect human cells.

But while the virus itself doesn't directly affect human cells, it does change the way that the bacteria behaves, and that can cause problems.

Scientists in Denmark examined samples of bacteria from 48 people who had an infection in their bloodstream, of whom half had colon cancer.

When they compared the two groups, they found that the patients with cancer all had a bacterium, B fragilis, which was infected with two prophages, so viruses, which had not been seen before.

Meanwhile, when they looked at the patients without cancer they found that the prophages were not present.

The study found a presence of certain bacteria in cancer patients (Halfpoint Images/Getty)

Interestingly, study of the prophages themselves indicated that they didn't have any genes which are known to increase cancer risk, but researchers clarified that further study on them is needed.

In the second part they examined stool samples of 877 people from Europe, Asia, and the US, of whom half had colon cancer, and found the same pattern.

However, the study authors also warned that all they have found so far is an association.

It's not yet been confirmed whether it is the presence of these viruses and bacteria themselves which is causing the cancer, or if it's something else.

Dr Fleming Damgaard is a molecular biologist, and led the research project.

He said: "These findings suggest a partnership between bacteria and their viruses that may shape disease.

"If confirmed, this... may support earlier detection of colorectal cancer and guide new ways to treat and prevent this disease."