Major new study identifies potential new treatment targets for the most common type of bowel cancer

23 October 2026: Major new research published today identifies potential new ways to treat the most common type of bowel cancer in Ireland. The study conducted by an international research team led by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, provides a clear roadmap for repurposing existing drugs and developing new ones, to create more effective, personalised treatments for thousands of patients who currently have limited options.

Of the 2,500 new bowel cancer cases diagnosed annually in the Ireland, Microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer accounts for 80-85% of these, but remains challenging to treat, with limited response to many newer therapies. Trials combining chemotherapy with newer targeted drugs or immunotherapies have delivered only modest improvements over current standard treatments.

Now, researchers have discovered vulnerabilities in these tumours and have identified the drug combinations – including drugs already approved to treat other tumour types – that could be used to target them, leading to more effective treatments for bowel cancer.

Using 2,000 patient tumour samples, the researchers analysed genetic, metabolic protein and clinical data with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, revealing previously unrecognised ways in which the cancer cells divide, grow, adapt and interact with their environment.

To do this, the team developed an AI approach called iPhenMap, which can create a biological map of the tumour. Using this map, they were able to spot connections between the different elements of the tumour – such as the genetic and metabolic features – that have been missed in previous studies that looked at the data in isolation.

Importantly, they found previously unidentified vulnerabilities in the tumours. They then tested these vulnerabilities in laboratory models and showed that certain drug combinations could work well to target them and treat the cancer.

For example, the targeted drug trametinib – approved to treat various cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, and thyroid cancer, with a specific mutation – was shown to significantly reduce tumour growth and extend survival in the laboratory models when combined with other drugs.

The researchers hope this work will accelerate the path to clinical testing of new treatment strategies for bowel cancer, using drugs which have already been developed and approved. In addition, the team believe their AI approach could be used to identify more effective drugs for other tumour types.

The research published in leading oncology journal Cancer Cell was jointly led by Professor Annette Byrne, Head of the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and Professor Anguraj Sadanandam, Group Leader, Systems and Precision Cancer Medicine Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, London. Dr Rodrigo Dienstmann, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona and University of Vic–Central University of Catalonia was co- senior author of the study.

Professor Byrne said: “Patients with MSS RAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer urgently need better treatment options, particularly when their disease no longer responds to standard therapy.

"While these findings remain preclinical, they highlight promising therapeutic opportunities and provide a strong foundation for further development. The next step will be to identify the biological features that predict response and determine how these approaches can be advanced safely towards clinical evaluation.”

Professor Sadanandam added: “A major strength of this research is the scale and diversity of the dataset, which was only possible through collaboration with European partners. By bringing together data from patients across multiple countries and integrating DNA, RNA, epigenetic, protein, metabolic, single-cell and clinical data at this scale, we were able to expose connections between tumour biology and therapeutic dependency that would otherwise be missed.

“AI and machine learning will increasingly help cancer researchers to bring these complex data together, not just to classify tumours, but to understand how they behave, identify their vulnerabilities and guide the development and repurposing of treatments, so that patients can live longer and healthier lives.”

Ensuring the patient voice was embedded throughout the project and that the findings were disseminated in an accessible format was a priority.

This research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme through funding awarded to the COLOSSUS project (www.colossusproject.eu), and by a Research Ireland Project Award to Professor Byrne. COLOSSUS, led by Professor Byrne, brings together leading European and international academics, clinicians, private sector and not-for-profit partners.

ENDS

For further information 

• Hannah Dunne, Communications Officer, RCSI, 087 425 4492 /  hannahcdunne@rcsi.ie  
• Laura Anderson, Senior Communications Officer, RCSI, 087 199 0399 / lauraanderson@rcsi.ie
• Gaby Richter, Senior Media Officer, ICR / Gaby.Richter@icr.ac.uk

About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked in the top ten universities in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2025.

Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide through education, research and engagement.

RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2026) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.

In 2026, RCSI opened Humanarium, a new public exhibition space and café at the heart of RCSI, exploring healthy futures for all, at 118 St Stephen’s Green in Dublin city centre. Through a rolling programme of free exhibitions and events exploring health sciences and medical research, it is a place for everyone to join conversations about how to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

Visit the RCSI Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise.

About the Institute of Cancer Research

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's most influential cancer research organisations.

Scientists and clinicians at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) are working every day to make a real impact on cancer patients' lives. Through its unique partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and 'bench-to-bedside' approach, the ICR is able to create and deliver results in a way that other institutions cannot. Together the two organisations are rated in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment globally.

The ICR has an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. It provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today it is a world leader at identifying cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment.

The ICR is a charity and relies on support from partner organisations, funders and the general public. A member institution of the University of London, it is one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions, placing first for biological sciences and second overall in the definitive ‘REF2021’ rankings of UK university research quality, impact and environment, and provides postgraduate higher education of international distinction.

The ICR's mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer.

For more information visit ICR.ac.uk 

Research Collaborators:

The research was carried by teams  in the Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK, VIB KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole, F-31059 Toulouse, France, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Cancer Trials Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Veracyte SAS, Marseille, France, Epigenomics AG, Geneststr. 5, 10829, Berlin, Germany, geneXplain GmbH, Wolfenbüttel, Germany, Molecular Oncology Group, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain, Oncology Data Science (ODysSey) Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain, Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, Department of Medical Oncology, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, Bon Secours Cork Cancer Centre, Bon Secours Hospital Cork, Cork, Ireland, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis Speyer, Speyer, Germany, Medical Oncology Department, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Spain, Oncobell Program (IDIBELL), Universitat de Barcelona (Campus Bellvitge), CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain.