When adenomas appear in the colon, the same cells of the
tissue produce a molecule that neutralizes its progression.
Adenomas, which are highly prevalent in the population,
provide the substrate on which carcinomas develop.
Colon cancer development starts with the formation of benign
tumours called adenomas. It is estimated that between 30% and 50% of people
over 50 will develop one of these tumours. These adenomas or polyps are the
pre-cancerous lesions that, once they accumulate further genetic mutations over
many years, can progress to colon cancer. A team headed by scientists at the
Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and headed by the ICREA
researcher Eduard Batlle has discovered that the colon has a safety mechanism
to restrict the formation and growth of adenomas.