Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. Recent research pointed to stem cells as a significant primary driver of colorectal cancer, but exactly what happens at the cellular level inside the gut is less clear. A new study by researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology sheds, outlines a mechanism by which colorectal cancers can evolve from mature intestinal cells that revert to stem cells and suggests pathways for effective therapies.

CHICAGO, MAY 31, 2026 ― Updated results from the Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial, led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, demonstrated a 56% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death for patients with BRAF V600E mutant metastatic colorectal cancer treated with a targeted therapy combination. 

OSUCCC – James researchers will present new findings at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, including a program that helps patients get donated oral drugs faster, new insights into colon and breast cancer, and ongoing accessibility gaps across communities in clinical trials.

Racially and ethnically minoritized patients are underscreened for colorectal cancer, resulting in racial/ethnic disparities. This study examined an intervention consisting of a mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to patients due for screening, plus patient navigation for positive tests, at two federally qualified health centers (FQHC) systems in North Carolina.