Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon&rectal cancer pesticide exposure
A new study links early-onset colorectal cancer to exposure to the herbicide picloram, using epigenetic methylation patterns as proxies for environmental exposures. Researchers analyzed DNA methylation data from cancer patients and found that picloram exposure was significantly associated with early-onset cases, a finding replicated across multiple cohorts and confirmed in U.S. population data. The study highlights the role of environmental factors, or the 'exposome,' in rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger adults. No major genomic differences were found between early- and late-onset cases, suggesting environmental influences may drive the increase.
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Download PDF Article Open access Published: 21 April 2026 Epigenetic fingerprints link early-onset colon and rectal cancer to pesticide exposure Silvana C. E. Maas1, Iosune Baraibar ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-96412, Lea Lemler1, Maria Butjosa-Espín ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5860-39961, Odei Blanco Irazuegui ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9989-01591,3, Josep Tabernero ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2495-81394, Elena Elez ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-63242 & …Jose A. Seoane ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3856-91771 Show authors Nature Medicine (2026)Cite this article 37k Accesses 778 Altmetric Metrics details Subjects Cancer epidemiologyColorectal cancerData integrationDNA methylationRisk factors AbstractThe incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising rapidly in people younger than 50…
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