Nature publishes new research on genetic causes of colorectal cancer

In the UK study, researchers analysed 2,023 bowel cancers from the 100,000 Genomes Project

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, with more than 44,000 new cases of the disease diagnosed in the UK every year.

Now a study led by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester has revealed previously unknown genetic causes of (CRC).

The new research, published in Nature, offers a novel view of the genetic landscape of CRC and treatment responses.

Led by Genomics England and NHS England, researchers analysed 2,023 bowel cancers from the 100,000 Genomes Project to identify new gene faults that lead to CRC. The research uncovered new CRC cancer sub-groups with specific genetic characteristics that affect how cancer behaves and responds to treatment.

Commenting on the findings, co-lead researcher and ICR’s professor of cancer genomics, Richard Houlston, said: “This research is a great insight into the biology of CRC, uncovering the clues as to how it develops, grows and responds to treatments.”

In total, the team identified over 250 key genes that play a crucial role in CRC, as well as four novel common sub-groups based on genetic features, along with several rare CRC sub-groups, which have different patient outcomes and may respond differently to therapy.

In addition, the team identified a variety of genetic mutation causes across different regions of the colorectum, highlighting differences in CRC causes between individuals, which could potentially be targeted with existing treatments currently used across other cancers.