Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon&rectal cancer pesticide exposure
A new study links early-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed before age 50) to exposure to the herbicide picloram, using epigenetic methylation patterns as proxies for environmental exposures. Researchers analyzed DNA methylation data from multiple cancer cohorts and found that picloram exposure was significantly associated with early-onset cases, a finding supported by population data from 94 U.S. counties. The study also confirmed known risk factors like diet, education, and smoking. These results suggest environmental factors in the exposome play a key role in rising early-onset colorectal cancer rates.
- ▪The study used DNA methylation risk scores as proxies to estimate exposome exposure in early-onset versus late-onset colorectal cancer patients.
- ▪Exposure to the herbicide picloram was identified as a new risk factor for early-onset colorectal cancer, with statistically significant results in both discovery and replication cohorts.
- ▪The association between picloram use and early-onset colorectal cancer incidence was validated using 21 years of population data from 94 U.S. counties.
- ▪Known risk factors such as lower education, poor diet, smoking, and obesity were also confirmed in the analysis.
- ▪The findings highlight the importance of environmental exposures in the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults.
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Download PDF Article Open access Published: 21 April 2026 Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon and rectal cancer to pesticide exposure Silvana C. E. Maas1, Iosune Baraibar ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-96412, Lea Lemler1, Maria Butjosa-Espín ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5860-39961, Odei Blanco Irazuegui ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9989-01591,3, Josep Tabernero ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2495-81394, Elena Elez ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-63242 & …Jose A. Seoane ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3856-91771 Show authors Nature Medicine (2026)Cite this article 37k Accesses 778 Altmetric Metrics details Subjects Cancer epidemiologyColorectal cancerData integrationDNA methylationRisk factors AbstractThe incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising rapidly in people younger than 50…
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