Prostate Cancer Gene Also Raises Colon Cancer Risk

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"These are encouraging findings, but obviously we need a lot more information about the genetic implications," said Dr. Durado Brooks, the society's director of prostate and colorectal cancer. Genetic tests that might assess people's risk or help in cancer diagnosis are still years away, and, for now, the new finding "will not in any way significantly alter clinical practice," he said.

Still, the assembled experts agreed that clinical application remains the ultimate goal of their research efforts.

Ideally, Dunlop said, tests might someday be developed to spot genes like rs6983267, "such that you could tailor interventions such as more intensive [patient] surveillance and even prevention," he said. "This is big step forward, but there is more to come."

More information

Find out more about colorectal cancer at the American Cancer Society.