As colon cancer rates increase in the U.S., researchers are looking to gut microbiota to find early predictors, such as bacterial biofilms found on the colon mucosa surface, according to a presentation at the NIH’s conference, “The Human Microbiome: Emerging Themes at the Horizon of the 21st Century.” In a recent study, signs pointed to increased and localized biofilm development in patients with colon cancer.

“By defining the microbial drivers of colon carcinogenesis, we can design new approaches to the prevention of human colon cancer,” Cynthia L. Sears, MD, from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in her presentation. “When diagnosed early, colorectal cancer — which is a leading cause of cancer death in men and women — is a completely preventable disease.”