Experts break down key gastrointestinal cancer data and trends from the 2026 ESMO Congress.
News|Articles|March 5, 2026
- Vol.27/No.5
- Volume 27
- Issue 05
Rising Incidence, Unclear Drivers: Knowledge Gaps Persist in Early-Onset CRC
Author(s)Courtney Flaherty
Fact checked by: Kyle Doherty , Kirsty Mackay
John L. Marshall, MD, and Christopher Lieu, MD, comment on the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) during CRC Awareness Month.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among adults younger than 50 years has nearly doubled since the 1990s, transforming what was once a projected trend into a present-day clinical crisis.1 By 2030, CRC is projected to increase in incidence by 90%, and recent data show that the disease is already the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women younger than 50 years.1,2
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