STAT+: New atlas of colorectal tumors sheds light on why cancers in young people are more dangerous

For years, scientists have struggled to elucidate key biological differences between early onset colorectal cancer, typically in patients under the age of 50, and older patients. They’ve long believed that these cancers must be biologically distinct, since younger patients tend to be far more difficult to treat. They’re often diagnosed at later stages with tumors with more aggressive features. “Their survival, especially for the very youngest patients under the age of 35, may actually not be as ...