Washington University in St Louis

Academic Institute

OFHS240156

The aim of this study is first to characterize the generational differences in cancer risk factors with the ultimate goal to elucidate risk factors that contribute to the rising burden and birth cohort effects of major early-onset cancers. Aim 1: To characterize cancer risk factors across different generations, with a specific focus on assessing the impact of birth cohorts, defined as the time during which individuals are born. This aim seeks to explore how environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors contributing to cancer risk vary between generations. Aim 2: To elucidate the progression of signs and symptoms leading up to the diagnosis of early-onset cancers. This aim seeks to explore the clinical trajectory of patients by identifying patterns in symptom onset, duration, and severity prior to diagnosis. Aim 3: To investigate life course risk factorsfor early-onset cancers by pooling data from over 15 cohorts worldwide. This aim will involve a comprehensive analysis of various exposures across different stages of life, to identify key contributors to early-onset cancers risk. While we will focus on early-onset bowel cancer in Aims 2 and 3, the analyses will serve as an exemplar for other major early-onset cancers, many of which are increasing in younger generations.Cancers are among the top causes of chronic diseases with noticeable burden on patients and health systems. In recent decades, there has been a noticeable increase in several types of cancer cases among younger people, particularly in developed countries like the UK; a trend that is not yet well understood. Furthermore, the role that various risk factors play in the development of cancer across different age groups and populations remains underexplored. The increasing burden of early-onset cancers suggests that younger generations may be exposed to unique or evolving risk factors, potentially linked to shifts generational changes. To better understand the causes of these trends, it is important to study people from different generations and examine their exposure to potential risk factors over time. Also, investigating the signs and symptoms of cancers in younger generations will help in timely diagnosis of this disease. Additionally, identifying both established and emerging life course risk factors would majorly help to know the drivers of cancer in younger populations. The Our Future Health cohort provides an ideal opportunity to conduct this type of research, as it includes a large sample of individuals from multiple generations and offers follow-up data aimed for long-term tracking.

Our study will benefit the public by addressing the critical need to understand why cancer rates are rising among younger generations. This research aims to uncover the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that increase the risk of several cancers, offering valuable insights that can lead to targeted prevention strategies. For example, if certain dietary patterns or environmental exposures are found to significantly contribute to cancer development, we can implement appropriate earlier cancer screening approaches, and design public health campaigns to educate people on how to modify these risk factors. These efforts could empower individuals to make healthier choices, reducing their risk of developing cancer. In addition to prevention, our research can improve early detection programs. Identifying high-risk groups, will enable healthcare providers to screen these populations more effectively, leading to earlier diagnosis and better treatment outcomes. Our findings will help lower the overall incidence of cancers, lighten the load on healthcare systems by reducing treatment costs, and, most importantly, save lives by preventing cancer from developing or ensuring that it is detected at an earlier, more treatable stage. The public will directly benefit from these improvements in prevention, education, and early intervention.

Public Health Research

01/07/2026

04/06/2025

TRE