Experts at King's College London and health science company Zoe are recruiting more than 250,000 adults aged 18 and over across the UK for a study called Prospect-UK to investigate rising rates of bowel cancer among people under 50. The study aims to track participants over time by collecting data on diet, lifestyle, environment, health, and linking this information with electronic health records to monitor cancer cases. Participants will complete online questionnaires, while a smaller group will provide detailed dietary logs and blood and stool samples.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
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Story summary
King's College London and Cancer Research UK are collaborating with health science company Zoe on a major study called Prospect-UK, recruiting over 250,000 volunteers from across the UK. The goal is to understand why bowel cancer rates have been rising significantly in adults under 50 since 1990; the UK has one of the fastest-growing rates globally. Participants will fill out online questionnaires on diet, lifestyle, and health factors, with some asked for more detailed information including blood samples. Dr Rosiered-Brownson Smith from King's College London stated that while early-onset bowel cancer remains relatively uncommon, a large participant group is necessary to identify the underlying causes of this concerning trend. Obesity is considered a potential risk factor, but the specific reasons behind the increase are still unclear.
Written for “Bowel Cancer Study Volunteers Needed” on 2026-10-05,
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More than 250,000 people are being recruited for a major study into the mystery of why bowel cancer rates are soaring in adults under 50.
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rates → recruit → 50
The disease was once found mainly in older adults but is increasingly being diagnosed at a younger age.
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disease → find → age
Experts said early-onset bowel cancer has increased 'substantially' around the world since 1990, and the UK has one of the fastest rising rates.
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UK → say → rates
It is not clear what is driving the rise, though obesity is thought to be a potential factor.
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obesity → drive → rise
Experts at King's College London and health science company Zoe want 250,000 adults aged 18 and over across the UK to take part in the study.
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adults → want → study
The trial, known as Prospect-UK, will track people over time, looking at diet and lifestyle factors.
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trial → know → factors
Participants will complete online questionnaires on their diet, lifestyle, environment, health and other factors.
They will also be asked for their information to be linked to their electronic health records so researchers can track cancer cases.
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researchers → complete → cases
Experts at King's College London and health science company Zoe want 250,000 adults aged 18 and over across the UK to take part in the study.
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adults → want → study
A small group will be asked to complete more detailed diet diaries and provide blood and stool samples.
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group → ask → samples
Professor Sarah Berry, chief investigator of the trial and professor of nutritional sciences at King's College London, said: 'Over just a few generations our lifestyles, diets and environments have changed dramatically.
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lifestyles → say → generations
But we don't know which of these changes are increasing people's risk of bowel cancer or which ones could help reduce it.
uncertain
ones → know → it
'We urgently need large-scale, long-term data to uncover the true causes of early-onset bowel cancer.'
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We → need → cancer
However, 2,700 cases a year are among people aged 25 to 49, with incidence rates in this age group rising by 62.3 per cent since the early 1990s, according to Cancer Research UK.
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rates → age → UK
Dr Rosiered-Brownson Smith, study research associate at King's College London, said: 'Although rates of early-onset bowel cancer are rising, it remains relatively uncommon, which means we need large groups of people to take part in research to help us understand why we are seeing this worrying trend.
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we → say → trend
Dame Deborah James, known as 'Bowel Babe', was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35.
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James → know → 35
'At the same time, our food environment has become increasingly complex, and this means we need to look at diet in much greater detail.
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we → become → detail
In the UK, around 60 per cent of our calorie intake comes from highly processed foods, but these foods are not all the same.
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foods → come → foods
They can differ substantially in their ingredients, processing methods and nutritional composition, even within the same food category.
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They → differ → category
'For the first time, we are collecting detailed, brand-level information about the foods people actually eat.
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people → collect → foods
'This will allow us to better understand which foods and dietary patterns may be linked to the development of early-onset bowel cancer.
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foods → allow → cancer
'Combining detailed dietary information with long-term health data, we hope Prospect-UK will help us better understand the complex relationship between what we eat and our risk of disease.'
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we → combine → disease
Dame Deborah James, known as 'Bowel Babe', raised the profile of bowel cancer in young people when she was diagnosed with the disease in 2016 at the age of 35.
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she → know → 35
The campaigner and podcaster passed away in 2022.
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campaigner → pass → 2022
Dr David Scott, director of global research initiative Cancer Grand Challenges, which is funding the study, said: 'Bowel cancer is still much more common in older people, but rising rates in younger adults pose a question we are working to answer.
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we → fund → question
'Diet and lifestyle may be part of the picture, but we need to understand what else could be contributing and how these factors interact.
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factors → need → picture
'Prospect-UK will help investigate that question as part of the international Prospect team's work, through Cancer Grand Challenges.
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UK → help → Challenges
'The global team is working to understand what is driving this rise in younger people and, ultimately, identify new ways to prevent bowel cancer.'
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what → work → cancer
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