Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States. This year alone, approximately 150,000 new CRC cases will be diagnosed, and approximately 50,000 people die from CRC every year. In addition to genetic mutations (changes in the DNA), dysregulated inflammation can lead to colon cancer. Recent studies from our lab and other labs show that increased production of interleukin-17 (IL-17), a type of protein produced in response to gut microbes by inflammatory cells promote the growth of colon cancer. Our studies have shown that a protein called ROR-gt is the main factor that induces IL-17 expression in the colon. We have developed new...

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States. This year alone, approximately 150,000 new CRC cases will be diagnosed, and approximately 50,000 people die from CRC every year. In addition to genetic mutations (changes in the DNA), dysregulated inflammation can lead to colon cancer. Recent studies from our lab and other labs show that increased production of interleukin-17 (IL-17), a type of protein produced in response to gut microbes by inflammatory cells promote the growth of colon cancer. Our studies have shown that a protein called ROR-gt is the main factor that induces IL-17 expression in the colon. We have developed new drugs to enhance the degradation of ROR-?t. First, we will test if this drug inhibits IL-17 and colon cancer growth in mice. Then, we will test the effect of this new drug on inflammatory cells isolated from colon cancer tissues of patients. If successful, our results will lead to new types of treatment for patients with colon cancer.

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