HonorHealth launches immunotherapy research to fight back colon cancer rates
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
In 2010 the leading cause of death in the United States of America was heart disease, followed by all deaths the result of some form of cancer, and then respiratory illnesses tipped the scales of death in modern America.
Today, the leading cause of death still remains heart disease, but now unequivocally the second largest disease killing Americans? Colorectal cancer.
Published reports show in 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a new recommendation that colorectal cancer screening for people at average should start five years sooner — now at 45 years of age based on alarming trends of colon cancer emerging in young people.
Officials at HonorHealth offer these startling statistics of a growing cause of concern quietly growing around colon cancer diagnosis:
- It’s estimated that more than 33% of adults, ages 50-75, are not getting screened as recommended.
- Each year, about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
- About 70% of colorectal cancer deaths can be preventable.
- Early detection and treatment lead to better outcomes.
Dr. Sunil Sharma, an oncologist at HonorHealth and chief of translational oncology and drug development at HonorHealth Research Institute, says stark increases in reported colon cancer cases in young people — patients younger than 45 years of age in medical terms — remain a mystery.
“I think it is true that colon cancer has raised in young people at alarming rates — it mostly has been occurring over the last 10 years,” he told the Digital Free Press. When we say young people, we are talking about people 45 years of age or younger. It is really unclear why this is happening.”
HonorHealth launches immunotherapy research to fight back colon cancer rates
With alarming rates and the societal taboo around the subject matter, an established blood test has been marked for general insurance and FDA approvals.
This past July, NBC News reported the FDA-approved Guardant Health’s blood test, coined Shield, to screen for colon cancer.
The newly approved FDA test, Shield, was previously available to doctors as a screening tool, but only at an out-of-pocket cost of $895.
However, blood tests do not guarantee accurate results like the colonoscopy — a procedure decried by humanity — which remains the gold standard in the 21st century.
Dr. Sharma points out what insurance is willing to pay for oftentimes determines the level of screening tool available to everyday patients.
“What the general consensus is that what we are seeing is an epigenetic phenomenon,” he said pointing out environmental factors likely play a critical role in the emergence of the deadly disease. “Part of the problem in the consensus is we don’t know what may be causing it, but when we look at young people it is still very rare.”
But Dr. Sharma reminds for peace of mind the colonoscopy procedure is the gold standard for early colorectal cancer detection.
“It is incredibly challenging to get screenings done. The colonoscopy is the gold standard,” he said pointing out virtues of the human anatomy allow the cancer to grow undetected for extended periods of time.
“Colon cancer can get fairly advanced as the colon is a flexible organ that can accept a lot of volume and if it is not detected it can be too late, but most insurances won’t pay for it unless people are displaying symptoms — that is a major challenge.”
At HonorHealth, Dr. Sharma is conducting a new study to develop new forms of immunotherapy to fight colorectal cancer and other cancers affecting millions of Americans every day.
“The new study is being conducted at HonorHealth and we are using a new form of immunotherapy to improve the immune system of the body to help fight cancer and initial results are looking really good,” he said. “What we have developing is identifying certain immunotherapy approaches that go along with certain gene types.”
No matter the advances in blood tests or immunotherapy practices to fight colorectal cancer, Dr. Sharma offers a few pieces of advice.
“A healthy lifestyle, we know certain things are important and while we don’t know the perfect diet we believe a Mediterranean style diet is best,” he said. “If there are no symptoms then a blood test as part of regular annual exams make sense. But if there are any kind of symptoms — colon cancer is very serious even for young people — colonoscopy remains the gold standard and it can save your life.”
