Colorectal cancer and Crohn's disease

The characteristics of cancer – characteristics of cancer formation – include the maintenance of cell division even after it is no longer necessary, as well as the escape of growth suppressor molecules.

The spread of cancer (metastasis), as well as the formation of a new blood supply and resistance to cell death, are all early signs of cancerous growth. In addition to these characteristics of cancer, there are general health problems that can increase the risk of developing cancer, including inflammation. Inflammation can take many forms, including wounds or certain types of inflammatory diseases.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease badociated with ulcerative colitis, and is a hereditary condition that directly affects the intestine. It presents mainly severe gastrointestinal pain, fever, diarrhea, clinical signs of intestinal obstruction and the pbadage of blood and mucus. It has been found that it affects all ages and all ethnicities. It has been the subject of much scientific research on treatments and / or treatments

. It is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the patient's immune system attacks the cells and tissues of the intestine. The reasons are unknown and the treatment therefore consists of immunosuppressive drugs such as very light chemotherapy tablets. This can expose patients with Crohn's disease to the risk of contracting rare diseases because they are immunocompromised due to the disease itself and immunosuppressive therapies.

Links Between Crohn's Disease and Colorectal Cancer

Because Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, these patients have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, this is modified by the age of the patients. A study conducted in 2014 showed that the risk of colorectal cancer in younger patients with Crohn's disease was only slightly higher than that of adult patients at moderate risk of colorectal cancer.

It was also observed in this study that male patients had a much greater risk of developing colorectal cancer (60% higher), as well as a greater cumulative incidence after 40 years of illness. The reason for this extreme increase in risk is unknown. In addition, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Caucasian and African patients with inflammatory bowel disease was almost identical.

Cancer is thought to be a "disease of the elderly" because it tends to disproportionately affect older generations. . There are obviously many exceptions to this rule – however, the incidence of colorectal cancer increases dramatically with age. For example, in a 2009 study, fewer than 50 cases of colorectal cancer per 100,000 population in the 45-49 age group were observed, compared with more than 175 cases per 100,000 population in the 65-year age group. at 69 years old. This number only increases with age – the causes being attributed to continuous cell replication in the intestine, as well as the possibility of chronic inflammatory bowel disorders. , such as Crohn's disease, over a long period.

Colorectal cancer is not a disease limited to 40 years and older; However, it is clear that the risk increases significantly with age – especially if the patient already has an inflammatory bowel disorder. Therefore, patients with Crohn's disease should be routinely screened for colorectal cancer, as well as other conditions related to the disease (eg, ulcerative colitis).

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