Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we’re spotlighting colorectal cancer research in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Here, we’ll share the latest research on colorectal cancer, how scientists are working to better understand its risk factors and progression, advances in screening and early detection, improvements in treatment and care, and more.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 28-Jun-2026 14:16 ET (28-Jun-2026 18:16 GMT/UTC)

27-Feb-2026

 

Texas A&M engineers illuminate cancer’s deadly hideout

Texas A&M University

Researchers from the biomedical engineering department at Texas A&M University — Drs. Shreya Raghavan, Alex Walsh, Daniel Alge and their respective labs — have teamed up to create models and imaging techniques to better understand and treat colorectal liver metastases.

26-Feb-2026

 

Scientists develop new gut health measure that tracks disease

Rutgers University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists have identified a new way to distinguish healthy guts from diseased ones and track how some illnesses progress by measuring how gut bacteria interact with one another.

According to a study published in Science, a collaboration between scientists at Rutgers University, Universidad de Granada in Spain and Princeton University found that healthy and diseased gut microbiomes behave like two distinct ecological states, driven not by individual microbes but by how entire bacterial communities compete and cooperate.

Journal

Science

Funder

Simons Foundation, Spanish Ministry of Research and Innovation, European Regional Development Fund

25-Feb-2026

 

Performance of the APCS-SDC2 score based on a fecal SDC2 methylation assay for the detection of colorectal polyps

Xia & He Publishing Inc.
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Accumulating evidence indicates that fecal syndecan-2 (SDC2) methylation is a promising biomarker for early detection of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of fecal SDC2 methylation testing for adenomas and evaluate the risk stratification efficacy of the Asia-Pacific Colorectal Screening Scoring (APCS) combined with SDC2 methylation status.

Journal

Cancer Screening and Prevention

23-Feb-2026

 

mRNA nanobodies show promise in treating colorectal cancer

First Hospital of Jilin University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have developed a new mRNA-based immunotherapy that effectively suppresses colorectal cancer in mice. Using lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA encoding anti-PD-L1 nanobodies, the treatment reduced tumor growth in both sporadic and colitis-associated colorectal cancer models. The quadruple nanobody format showed superior efficacy by prolonging therapeutic activity and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. This approach represents a promising alternative to conventional antibody therapies, particularly for cancers resistant to current immunotherapies.

Journal

eGastroenterology