Disparities in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Journal Cells

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Biophysics
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2021 Apr 30

PMID 33925893

Citations 36

Authors

Charles Muller

Ehizokha Ihionkhan

Elena M Stoffel

Sonia S Kupfer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The incidence and mortality of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing in the United States (US) and worldwide. In the US, there are notable disparities in early-onset CRC burden by race/ethnicity and geography. African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, and populations residing in specific regions of the Southern U.S. are disproportionately affected with CRC diagnosed at younger ages, while less is known about disparities in other countries. Reasons for these disparities are likely multi-factorial and potentially implicate differences in health determinants including biology/genetics, diet/environment, individual health behaviors, and access to high-quality health services, as well as social and policy factors. This review summarizes current understanding of early-onset CRC disparities and identifies specific research areas that will inform evidence-based interventions at individual, practice, and policy levels to reduce the global burden of this disease.

Citing Articles

Enhanced diagnostic accuracy of SINE-EUS compared to standard EUS in early colorectal cancer: a self-controlled study.

Zhao J, Rong A, Wu H, Chang N, Jiang Y, Li K Int J Colorectal Dis. 2025; 40(1):30.

PMID: 39891742 PMC: 11787238. DOI: 10.1007/s00384-025-04814-z.

DNA methylation profiling at base-pair resolution reveals unique epigenetic features of early-onset colorectal cancer in underrepresented populations.

Li J, Riggins K, Yang L, Chen C, Castro P, Alfarkh W Clin Epigenetics. 2025; 17(1):11.

PMID: 39844333 PMC: 11753045. DOI: 10.1186/s13148-025-01817-z.

Achieving Health Equity: Advancing Colorectal Surgery among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in America.

Overstreet D, Hollis R Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2024; 38(1):34-40.

PMID: 39734714 PMC: 11679203. DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786532.

Trends in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in Singapore: Epidemiological Study of a Multiethnic Population.

Chen H, Chong Q, Tay B, Zhou S, Wong E, Seow-En I JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024; 11:e62835.

PMID: 39725547 PMC: 11888020. DOI: 10.2196/62835.

Risk-Adapted Starting Ages of Colorectal Cancer Screening for People With Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome.

Seum T, Hoffmeister M, Brenner H Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2024; 61(4):675-681.

PMID: 39686687 PMC: 11754933. DOI: 10.1111/apt.18435.

References

Basa R, Davies V, Li X, Murali B, Shah J, Yang B . Decreased Anti-Tumor Cytotoxic Immunity among Microsatellite-Stable Colon Cancers from African Americans. PLoS One. 2016; 11(6):e0156660. PMC: 4911070. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156660. View

Nam S, Kim B, Han K, Ryu K, Park B, Kim H . Abdominal visceral adipose tissue predicts risk of colorectal adenoma in both sexes. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010; 8(5):443-50.e1-2. DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2010.02.001. View

Statovci D, Aguilera M, MacSharry J, Melgar S . The Impact of Western Diet and Nutrients on the Microbiota and Immune Response at Mucosal Interfaces. Front Immunol. 2017; 8:838. PMC: 5532387. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00838. View

Siegel R, Medhanie G, Fedewa S, Jemal A . State Variation in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in the United States, 1995-2015. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019; 111(10):1104-1106. PMC: 6792093. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djz098. View

Wang D, Leung C, Li Y, Ding E, Chiuve S, Hu F . Trends in dietary quality among adults in the United States, 1999 through 2010. JAMA Intern Med. 2014; 174(10):1587-95. PMC: 5924699. DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.3422. View

Carson T, Wang F, Cui X, Jackson B, van Der Pol W, Lefkowitz E . Associations Between Race, Perceived Psychological Stress, and the Gut Microbiota in a Sample of Generally Healthy Black and White Women: A Pilot Study on the Role of Race and Perceived Psychological Stress. Psychosom Med. 2018; 80(7):640-648. PMC: 6113071. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000614. View

Gandhi J, Davidson C, Hall C, Pearson J, Eglinton T, Wakeman C . Population-based study demonstrating an increase in colorectal cancer in young patients. Br J Surg. 2017; 104(8):1063-1068. DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10518. View

Klabunde C, Cronin K, Breen N, Waldron W, Ambs A, Nadel M . Trends in colorectal cancer test use among vulnerable populations in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011; 20(8):1611-21. PMC: 3153583. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-11-0220. View

Aitchison A, Hakkaart C, Day R, Morrin H, Frizelle F, Keenan J . Mutations Are Not Confined to Hotspot Regions in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2020; 12(12). PMC: 7766084. DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123829. View

10.

Chan A, Giovannucci E . Primary prevention of colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology. 2010; 138(6):2029-2043.e10. PMC: 2947820. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.01.057. View

11.

Carethers J . Clinical and Genetic Factors to Inform Reducing Colorectal Cancer Disparitites in African Americans. Front Oncol. 2018; 8:531. PMC: 6256119. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00531. View

12.

Siegel R, Torre L, Soerjomataram I, Hayes R, Bray F, Weber T . Global patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence in young adults. Gut. 2019; 68(12):2179-2185. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319511. View

13.

Xicola R, Manojlovic Z, Augustus G, Kupfer S, Emmadi R, Alagiozian-Angelova V . Lack of APC somatic mutation is associated with early-onset colorectal cancer in African Americans. Carcinogenesis. 2018; 39(11):1331-1341. PMC: 6292413. DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy122. View

14.

Flegal K, Carroll M, Ogden C, Curtin L . Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. JAMA. 2010; 303(3):235-41. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.2014. View

15.

Stoffel E, Murphy C . Epidemiology and Mechanisms of the Increasing Incidence of Colon and Rectal Cancers in Young Adults. Gastroenterology. 2019; 158(2):341-353. PMC: 6957715. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.07.055. View

16.

Alese O, Jiang R, Zakka K, Wu C, Shaib W, Akce M . Analysis of racial disparities in the treatment and outcomes of colorectal cancer in young adults. Cancer Epidemiol. 2019; 63:101618. DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.101618. View

17.

Madiba T, Moodley Y, Sartorius B, Sartorius K, Aldous C, Naidoo M . Clinicopathological spectrum of colorectal cancer among the population of the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. Pan Afr Med J. 2020; 37:74. PMC: 7680225. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.74.21313. View

18.

Schmid D, Leitzmann M . Television viewing and time spent sedentary in relation to cancer risk: a meta-analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014; 106(7). DOI: 10.1093/jnci/dju098. View

19.

Siegel R, Fedewa S, Anderson W, Miller K, Ma J, Rosenberg P . Colorectal Cancer Incidence Patterns in the United States, 1974-2013. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2017; 109(8). PMC: 6059239. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djw322. View

20.

Murphy C, Sandler R, Sanoff H, Yang Y, Lund J, Baron J . Decrease in Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Individuals 50 Years or Older After Recommendations for Population-based Screening. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016; 15(6):903-909.e6. PMC: 5337450. DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.08.037. View