According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Science Advances, lifestyle factors that disrupt the biological clock may accelerate the progression of colorectal cancer, explaining the increasing incidence of this disease among younger individuals.
Lifestyle habits disrupting the biological clock may promote cancer. (Illustrative image: AI).
Dr. Selma Masri from the University of California, Irvine, the lead author, stated that she and her colleagues used mice engineered to develop colorectal cancer and a device that could intervene in their biological rhythms. They found that when the biological clock was disrupted, the diversity and quantity of gut bacteria changed, and the function of the intestinal barrier was affected, thereby promoting the development of cancer. Previous studies have even linked gut microbiota imbalances to the onset of various gastrointestinal cancers.
According to Dr. Masri, this discovery opens new avenues for prevention and treatment strategies for colorectal cancer and potentially other types of cancer. “There is a concerning increase in early-onset colorectal cancer among adults under 50 years old,” she warned, noting that this could be due to adverse lifestyle factors that young people today often face, including prolonged exposure to light or late-night eating.
Colorectal cancer currently ranks third in incidence and second in mortality among cancers, according to data released by the World Health Organization in early 2024.
