India, Dec. 26 -- Increased stiffness of the colon, spurred by chronic inflammation, may encourage the development and progression of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC), a study co-led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests.

The findings, published in Advanced Science, could lead to new ways to prevent and treat this deadly subset of CRC.

Emina Huang, M.D., M.B.A., is Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery and Executive Vice Chair of Research for Surgery at UT Southwestern. Dr. Huang is also Professor of Biomedical Engineering and in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"We consider this study a significant advancement toward identifying those at risk of early-onset CRC and findi...