Researchers at the Catholic University College of Medicine say they may be able to detect colon cancer at an early stage.

Professor Jeong Yeon-joon says his team analyzed the chromosomes of 59 patients and completed a map of chromosome mutations unique to colon cancer.

Using the map, researchers believe they can diagnose the disease at an early stage and also develop new treatments.

The study will be published in the U.S. journal Gastroenterology.