EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

This month, we’re spotlighting colorectal cancer research in recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Here, we’ll share the latest research on colorectal cancer, how scientists work to better understand and prevent it, what screening options are available, and what these findings may mean for protecting your health, and more.

Detection of bowel cancer marker in wastewater may offer new early warning system

BMJ Group
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Detection of a bowel cancer marker (CDH1) in wastewater may offer a new community level early warning system for the disease, suggests a proof of concept study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Funder: Owsley Brown II Family Foundation

16-Mar-2026

Geographic, racial, and sex disparities in time to treatment for early-onset colorectal cancer

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: This cross-sectional analysis found that delays in treatment initiation for early-onset colorectal cancer—often exceeding 90 days—were more common in all-urban populations and appeared to disproportionately affect young male, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, or Hispanic patients. Although absolute differences in average treatment timing were modest, the focus in this study on clinically relevant delay thresholds (30, 60, and 90 days) is supported by recent meta-analytic literature. The consistency of these delays across sociodemographic groups challenges assumptions of uniformly timely access in urban settings.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

16-Mar-2026

Rewiring tumor immunity: A hidden protein halts colorectal cancer spread

China Anti-Cancer Association
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cancer progression is not driven solely by tumor cells but also by their surrounding immune environment.

Journal: Cancer Biology & Medicine

12-Mar-2026

Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for March 2026

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Reports and Proceedings

Sylvester Cancer's March tip sheet contains a variety of cancer-related story ideas including colorectal cancer prevention, exercise during chemotherapy for breast cancer, colorectal and pancreatic cancer immunotherapy research awards, the 2026 Dolphins Cancer Challenge and more.

11-Mar-2026

New target for enhancing anti-angiogenic therapy in colorectal cancer

Higher Education Press

Discover how scientists are revolutionizing colorectal cancer treatment by targeting a key protein linked to tumor growth and blood vessel formation. Learn about the groundbreaking research that could enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies and offer new hope for patients fighting this deadly disease.

Journal: Engineering

9-Mar-2026

“Bugs delivering drugs” – researchers publish new approach to colorectal cancer treatment using common food-borne bacteria

Baylor University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Baylor University researchers have published a novel approach to fight colorectal cancer, using modified food-borne bacteria as a courier to deliver potent cancer-killing proteins into tumor cells. Colorectal cancers accounted for the second-most deaths caused by cancer in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute, highlighting the importance of new strategies for therapy and treatment. The study is published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology.

Journal: Cell Chemical Biology

8-Mar-2026

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology highlights new and open colorectal cancer trials in March

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Business Announcement

This March, join the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) and the Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) in spotlighting colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, behind only lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Last year, an estimated 155,000 Americans received a diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer, and about 53,000 died from the disease. Alliance has 10 active trials focused on improving treatments for colorectal cancers as well as others aimed at ways to prevent the disease or catch it very early when symptoms are most easily and effectively treated.

Funder: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation, NIH/National Cancer Institute, Alliance Foundation Trials

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

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