027-Tumor ‘‘age’’ in early-onset colorectal cancer

This paper discusses the increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), which affects individuals under 50, and its potential to constitute one-third of all CRC cases by 2030. It highlights the critical unknown of how long it takes for EO-CRC to reach metastatic stages, suggesting that this "tumor age" could be significantly shorter than for standard-onset CRC. The text argues that simply lowering the screening age may be insufficient, advocating instead for a deeper understanding of EO-CRC's unique biology and the development of tailored, non-invasive screening strategies. The authors propose that accurately estimating a tumor's "age" is crucial for developing effective early diagnosis and prevention methods for younger generations.

References:

• Mauri G, Patelli G, Crisafulli G, et al. Tumor “age” in early-onset colorectal cancer[J]. Cell, 2025, 188(3): 589-593.