Valentine N. Nfonsam, MD, MS, FACSAssociate Professor of SurgeryProgram Director, General Surgery ResidencyColon and Rectal SurgeryDivision of Surgical OncologyUniversity of Arizona, Tucson

22 Apr Gene Linked to Colon Cancer in Younger Patients Identified

Posted at 12:06h in Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Colon Cancer, Genetic Research, Surgical Research by

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Valentine N. Nfonsam, MD, MS, FACSAssociate Professor of SurgeryProgram Director, General Surgery ResidencyColon and Rectal SurgeryDivision of Surgical OncologyUniversity of Arizona, Tucson

Dr. Nfonsam

Valentine N. Nfonsam, MD, MS, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Program Director, General Surgery Residency
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Division of Surgical Oncology
University of Arizona, Tucson 

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The overall incidence of colon cancer in the United states has gone down in the last few decades. However, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of sporadic colon cancer is young patients (<50 years old). The etiology of this phenomenon is likely multi-factorial.

These young patients do present with more advanced disease and with aggressive features. We demonstrated in our study that the colon cancer tumor biology was different between young and older patients. We also singled out a particular gene, Cartilage oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) which was significantly over-expressed in young patients and demonstrated its role in cancer proliferation and metastasis and also its potential as a prognostic biomarker since we were able to detect it in plasma.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: There is increasing incidence of colon cancer in young patients and the reason is likely multi-factorial. The biology of the tumors in younger patients is different and specific genes like COMP plays a role in carcinogenesis. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We will like to further evaluate the role of COMP as a prognostic biomarker and also further elucidate its role in carcinogenesis.  

Study was funded by SAGES grant. 

 Citation:

Increasing Incidence of Colon Cancer in the Young: Assessing the Tumor Biology
Nfonsam, Valentine N. et al.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons , Volume 0 , Issue 0

https://www.journalacs.org/article/S1072-7515(19)30257-1/fulltext 

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Last Updated on April 22, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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