Colorectal Cancer Research Highlights

The American Cancer Society (ACS) helps find answers to critical questions about colorectal cancer (CRC).

  • What causes it?
  • How can it be successfully prevented, detected, and treated?
  • What is the best age to start screening?
  • How can the quality of life for colorectal cancer survivors be improved?

Studying questions like these has helped improve screening and treatment methods, which has contributed to substantial decreases in deaths from colorectal cancer over the past 20 years. Thank you to all our donors who make this research possible.

55% of Colorectal Cancer Cases & Deaths Have the Potential to Be Prevented with Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide and the 2nd leading cause of death from cancer. It's estimated that about 55% of colorectal cases and deaths could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, such as certain diets, not being physically active, smoking, and drinking alcohol. 

Can Ozempic & Mounjaro Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

Early study finds GLP-1 medicines reduce the risk of colorectal cancer more than other diabetes medicines, especially for people with overweight/obesity.

Risk and Prevention Studies

Finding the Link Between Gut Health and Colorectal Cancer

Watch this free webinar with ACS scientist Caroline Um, PhD, who explores how your gut's microbiome relates to colorectal cancer. You'll also hear from female boxer and cancer survivor, Bridgett Riley.

Investigating the Rise of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

This podcast features former ACS Scientific Director in the Population Science department Peter Campbell, PhD. Dr. Campbell is now a professor at Albert Einstein Medical School in the Bronx, New York.

How Caff and Decaf Coffee Affect the Risk for Colorectal Cancer

CPS-II Nutrition Cohort Study shows people who drink decaffeinated coffee have a lower risk of colorectal cancer, regardless of their smoking status.

Data Shows Rapid Shifts to More Advanced Disease and Younger People

We need to invest more in research to uncover the causes of the rising trends and to discover new treatment for advanced-stage diseases to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease in this young population, who are raising families and supporting other family members."

Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD

Senior Vice President, Surveillance & Health Equity Science

American Cancer Society

See the most current Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures

Screening and Early Detection Studies

People Ages 45-49 Are Not Getting Screened for Colorectal Cancer

ACS researchers found that colorectal cancer screening in newly eligible adults is low, with stool tests especially low despite increases during COVID-19.

3 out of 4 People Late for Screening Say Doctor Didn't Suggest It

Researchers found that only 26% of people who were overdue for colorectal cancer screening said their doctor recommended screening in the past year.

Insurance Links Cancer Screening Rates with Unemployment

ACS researchers reveal the need to protect cancer screening rates when unemployment is high, as it has been during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Striking Trends for Colorectal Cancer Incidence

1% to 2%

increase each year from the mid1990s for cases of colorectal cancer in people younger than 55

-1%

decline each year 2011-2019 for cases of colorectal cancer in people 65+ 

1%

increase each year from the mid2000s for deaths from colorectal cancer in people younger than 55

-2.9%

decline each year for the past 10 years for deaths from colorectal cancer in people 65+ 

Treatment Studies

New Spatial Maps of the Intestine Show Cell-Level Details

ACS grantee contributed his cellular spatial map of the large and small intestine to a larger project, the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP).

New Epigenetic Target May Lead to Personalized Treatments

An ACS grantee unraveled DNA from a histone spool and found the gene that enhances a cell to become colorectal cancer.

Extra Chromosomes May Help Cancer Cells Spread—or Stop Them

Find out how Jason Sheltzer, PhD, is using CRISPR—and developing other new tools—to study the role of missing or extra chromosomes in colon cancer.

Eye-opening Statistics about the Youngest Adults Eligible for Screening

30%

percentage of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer with a family history, which is why their screening should start before age 45

37%

percentage of rectal cancers in people younger than age 50, compared to 24% in those 65+

20%

colorectal cancer screening rate for people ages 45 to 49 - lower than for ages 50 to 65 and 65 and older

-25%

how much being physically active can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer

Survivorship Studies

Survival Rates for CRC Remain Low in Sub-Saharan Africa

Researchers find a country’s Human Development Index (HDI) affects colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes even more than stage at diagnosis.

Vitamin C and Multi’s Don’t Help Colorectal Cancer Survivors

A CPS-II Nutrition Study found using multivitamins or C before or after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer didn’t affect survival. Vitamin E is still in question.

Does Regular Use of Aspirin Improve Colorectal Cancer Survival?

Analysis of the ACS’s Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort shows how aspirin use affects the risk of developing colorectal cancer and dying from it.

Featured Term: Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome is a collection of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that mostly live in the digestive tract. Every person's gut microbiome is uniquely shaped by their diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environment. Gut bacteria help with day-to-day functions like synthesizing vitamins, digesting food, and metabolizing drugs. They also help regulate the immune system and protect the body from potentially harmful bacteria. Recent findings have shown that the gut microbiome can help cancer grow and also help keep it from growing.

Go to the Glossary for Nonscientists

Colorectal Cancer Research News

ACS Statistics Reports  

Helpful Resources

We Fund Cancer Researchers Across the US

The ACS funds scientists who conduct research about breast cancer at medical schools, universities, research institutes, and hospitals throughout the United States. We use a rigorous and independent peer review process to select the most innovative research project proposals to fund. 

77

colorectal cancer grants

$63M

funding for colorectal cancer

See More Research Funding Statistics