Gut instinct: a call to study the biology of early-onset colorectal cancer disparities.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among individuals age younger than 50 years continues to rise with etiologies unknown. Synchronously, early-onset CRC disparities have grown more pronounced. As translational research across diverse populations has been limited, we advocate for mechanistic studies that address this challenge to mitigate CRC disparities among young adults. The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) continues to rise and disproportionately affects people of African descent. This Comment advocates for mechanistic studies that can help mitigate EOCRC disparities.