A study co-led by University of Texas at Dallas bioengineers identified a distinctive feature of tissues from young patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a disease that typically affects older patients.

Researchers found that both cancerous and noncancerous colon tissue was mechanically stiffer in younger patients with respect to older patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The findings, published in the Jan. 30 print edition of Advanced Science, suggest that stiffness may create an environment that promotes the development of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50. This work may offer new approaches for preventing and treating this disease — known as early-onset colorectal cancer — a condition that has been mysteriously rising over the past 30 years.

Cambridge, MA, February 17, 2025 — Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”, 3696.HK), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have entered into a collaborative research agreement aimed at discovering new therapeutic targets for gastroesophageal malignancies. The initiative builds on MSK’s global leadership in this field under the direction of Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, Carroll and Milton Petrie Chair; Chief, GI Oncology; and Founding Director of the MSK GEC Therapeutics Accelerator, whose group has delivered multiple practice-changing advances in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. Patrick Evans, BS, MBA, Senior Project Manager in the Janjigian Lab, will serve as the MSK project lead, supporting integration of scientific, operational, and translational efforts across teams.