Grant: Project Grant

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most diagnosed cancer in Canada, with an average of 72 Canadians being diagnosed with CRC every day. One population with an increased risk of developing CRC is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, whose likelihood of developing CRC is directly linked to the duration and severity of intestinal inflammation. Because the prevalence of IBD in Canada is among the highest in the world, and because the number of pediatric IBD cases is increasing, it is likely that patients who develop CRC related to inflammation will also increase unless preventative measures are taken. The actual unexplained trend of higher CRC cases in younger individuals is an emergency public health issue that makes the interplay between IBD and CRC even more important to investigate. One factor that influences both IBD and CRC development is the composition of the gut microbiota, or the microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. An increase in pro-inflammatory bacteria is linked with IBD, and there are several bacterial species that have been linked to the promotion of CRC. Additionally, the signaling molecule interleukin (IL)-22 plays a complex role in CRC development. The overall goal of our research is thus to better understand the effects of IL-22 in CRC development and to modulate its production with the use of dietary supplements and biological molecules. We aim to use these dietary supplements to decrease inflammation, to limit the growth of pro-carcinogenic bacteria, and to prevent the development and progression of colorectal tumors. This research is important as it examines dietary supplementation as a safe and accessible method to regulate IL-22 as a preventative measure for CRC development in IBD.