Early Onset Colorectal Cancer

Disease Profile

Early-onset colorectal cancer refers to colorectal cancer diagnosed before age 50. It includes colon and rectal cancers in younger adults and has shown rising incidence in multiple populations. Many younger patients are diagnosed at advanced stage because routine screening is often not performed before the recommended age.

Category: Colorectal cancer subtype defined by age at diagnosis (<50 years)
Prevalence: Now around 10% of colon cancer diagnoses occur in people younger than 50; incidence in ages 20-49 is rising by about 3% per year in U.S. ACS reporting

ICD Codes

C18
C19
C20

Related News

Multiple Studies Link Accelerated Biological Aging to Rising Early-Onset Cancer in Younger Generations

Jun 29, 2026

Two studies published in Nature Medicine and Military Medical Research link accelerated biological aging in younger generations to rising rates of early-onset cancers. Researchers found that people born in more recent decades show larger gaps between their chronological and biological ages, with stronger risks for lung, gastrointestinal, and uterine cancers. A separate global analysis identified six cancers now rising faster in younger adults than older populations.

Oncology Innovations: ENVISION Trial Results, AI Integration, and Real-Time Symptom Monitoring

Mar 29, 2026

The phase 3 ENVISION trial shows 80% complete response rate for novel bladder cancer chemoablative therapy. AI integration accelerates precision oncology through biomarker identification and targeted treatments. OncoPRO real-time symptom monitoring system enhances patient safety and clinical trial data capture.

Colorectal Cancer Rising in Young Adults as Actor James Van Der Beek Dies at 48

Mar 03, 2026

Actor James Van Der Beek died at age 48 from colorectal cancer, highlighting a troubling trend of rising cancer rates and deaths among younger Americans despite overall declines in older populations.

Related Clinical Trials

NCT ID	Title	Status
NCT06868095	Multi-Center Study Protocol: Impact of Sarcopenia in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer.	ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
NCT06734156	CARE-CRC: Microbiome Insights and Correlations for Risk and Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer	RECRUITING
NCT05732623	Exogenous and Endogenous Risk Factors for Early-onset Colorectal Cancer	RECRUITING