(PQC1) Accelerated biological aging and colon polyp to cancer progression
Description: PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) arises from the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in colon epithelial cells that drive the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer. Although virtually all CRCs arise from adenomatous polyps or serrated polyps, it is estimated that only 5% of polyps progress to cancer. We will determine whether one of the factors that cause polyps to transform into colorectal cancer is accelerated or dysfunctional aging of the colon. We will use a novel method for assessing the biological age of tissues, called clock CpGs, to determine whether people with CRC have biologically "old" colons compared to their chronological age and if epigenetic drift or increased senescence mediate the cancer predisposition observed in "old" colons. The identification of factors that mediate the malignant transformation of polyps would enhance our ability to prevent CRC by allowing us to identify people at high risk for developing CRC. These individuals could then be placed on aggressive surveillance programs or receive chemoprevention therapies.
Funder: National Cancer Institute
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R01
Start date: 2015-04-14
End date: 2020-03-31
Investigator: WILLIAM MALLORY GRADY
Institution: FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 32
Funder award ID: R01CA194663
OpenAlex ID: G4475416948