Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The current gold standard for screening, the colonoscopy, reduces cancer deaths by 67 percent, according to a 2018 study from Kaiser Permanente. So, we know screening is effective. However, obstacles remain. Colonoscopies are invasive and costs can be prohibitive. An alarming trend has also emerged, with incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer increasing over the last few decades.

Today on OncTimes Talk, we interview Anil K. Rustgi, MD, on the current state of colorectal cancer screening, advancements in non-invasive testing, and the mechanisms behind early-onset colorectal cancer.

In addition to being a world-renowned leader in the field of gastrointestinal oncology, Rustgi is the Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. His research focuses on tumor initiation, the tumor microenvironment, and tumor metastasis in gastrointestinal cancers.