November 2025 New research from the microONE project (CBmed GmbH, Austria) suggests that microplastics may impact gut health by altering the microbiome. Using human stool samples to create controlled gut cultures, researchers exposed the samples to five common microplastics - polystyrene, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and polyethylene terephthalate - ...

November 2025 A recent study presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2025 highlights rectal bleeding as a strong predictor of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in individuals under 50. Conducted by Jin et al., the retrospective cohort analysis included 443 patients undergoing colonoscopy between 2021 and 2023, of ...

The use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications, originally developed for the management of type 2 diabetes, has surged in recent years due to the approval for expanded use for chronic weight management1. A new study looked at whether people who take GLP-1 RA-medications like semaglutide (Ozempic®, ...

Researchers have discovered a new type of gut bacteria, called YB328, that may help cancer treatments work better. This bacterium was found in patients with lung and stomach cancers who responded well to a type of immunotherapy called PD-1 blockade, a treatment that helps the immune system attack cancer. Currently, ...

A recent French study suggests that tailoring chemotherapy doses based on lean body mass (LBM), rather than standard body surface area, can reduce nerve-related side effects in people being treated for stage III colon cancer.  Lean body mass: the total weight of the body excluding the weight of body fat.  ...

Updated results from the international BREAKWATER phase III trial show that patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer may live significantly longer when treated with a combination of encorafenib, cetuximab, and mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy, compared to the current standard of care for this subset of patients, which involves chemotherapy with or ...

A randomized phase 3 trial (CHALLENGE, CO.21) conducted by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group found that a 3-year structured exercise program following surgery and chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes for patients with stage III and high-risk stage II colorectal cancer. Compared to patients who only received health education materials, those in ...

New results from the Phase 3 BREAKWATER clinical trial show that a combination treatment including BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib), cetuximab, and chemotherapy significantly improves survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has a specific genetic change called the BRAF V600E mutation. In the trial, patients receiving this new treatment lived twice ...