Scientists Discover Virus Linked to Colon Cancer

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have identified a new virus that appears to be linked to colon cancer. The virus appears more frequently in people with colon cancer than in those who don’t have this cancer type.

The Discovery

Looking at the Danish patient population involving approximately 2 million people, the researchers identified people who had been diagnosed with a serious bloodstream infection caused by Bacteroides fragilis. People who had this infection were diagnosed with colon cancer within a few weeks. People who were diagnosed with colon cancer had infections with specific viruses.

The team later tested stool samples of nearly 900 people from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, to compare with the Danish population, and found the same thing.

The findings suggest a connection between bacteria and the viruses that may shape disease and were published in Communications Medicine.

New Ideas About the Triggers of Colon Cancer

Common risks for colon cancer include diet, genetics, and lifestyle, and this study looks at environmental factors.

“The number and diversity of bacteria in the gut is enormous. Previously, it has been like looking for a needle in a haystack. Instead, we have investigated whether something inside the bacteria, namely viruses, might help explain the difference,” says Flemming Damgaard in a news release.

Game Changing Research

This virus might explain why people who don’t appear to be at risk for colon cancer end up getting this diagnosis. The good news is that early detection leads to the best results. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing colon cancer, but there are blood tests and fecal tests that are also available for people to try.