Newswise — Cleveland Clinic researchers will share study results in a presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting June 3, 2023.
“The number of younger people diagnosed with colorectal cancer has skyrocketed in the last 20 to 30 years,” said Suneel Kamath, M.D., gastrointestinal oncologist at Cleveland Clinic and senior author of this research. “There hasn’t been a clear explanation for why this has been happening, although we suspected the increase could be attributed to environmental factors, since most cases are not genetic or hereditary – even in younger people. We now have data to support that theory and lead to further investigation.”
The analysis of small molecule metabolites, such as citrate, is referred to as metabolomics. This can provide insight into how the body interacts with the environment – essentially a bridge between one’s genetics and exposures. Cleveland Clinic researchers used metabolomics to assess differences between young-onset colorectal cancer and average-onset colorectal cancer (disease in patients older than age 60) which they believe could suggest any exposure risks.
The research team identified patients with stage I-IV colorectal cancer from Cleveland Clinic BioRepository samples and categorized patients based on age younger than 50 years or older than 60 years.
The study population comprised 170 colorectal cancer patients (66 young-onset colorectal cancer patients and 104 average-onset colorectal cancer patients). Association analyses revealed multiple differentially abundant metabolites, including citrate and cholesterol. Metabolic pathways significantly altered in young-onset colorectal cancer vs. average-onset colorectal cancer included carbohydrate metabolism and protein metabolism. The results suggest that energy excess from sugar-sweetened beverages, red meat consumption and obesity may be risk factors for young-onset colorectal cancer.
The study found that higher levels of 4-hydroxyhippuric acid correlated with improved survival in both young and average onset colorectal cancer. While the exact significance of this finding needs to be studied further, 4-hydroxyhippuric acid is known to come from plant-based sources like vegetables, nuts and teas and has antioxidant properties that are known to correlate with better cancer outcomes.
“Metabolomic differences in pathways altered by environmental exposures such as excess red meat consumption may suggest relationships with younger age of onset,” said Dr. Kamath. “Next steps would include future studies to understand disease cause and development, and to create biomarkers for better therapies in young-onset colorectal cancer.”
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 22 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2021, there were 10.2 million total outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
###
RSS