COLON-IM : Microbiota and Immune Infiltrate in Normal, Dysplastic and Neoplastic Colorectal Tissue

This study is collecting tissue and stool samples from patients undergoing surgery for colon or rectal cancer (or pre-cancerous growths) to study how the bacteria living in the gut (the microbiome) and the immune cells within tumor tissue might influence how well treatments work. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 18 years or older - You have been diagnosed with a colorectal lesion (benign or cancerous, stages I–III) and are scheduled for surgery, OR - You have colon or rectal cancer and have had or are receiving radiation or chemotherapy before surgery - You have not previously received any cancer treatments (for the first group) - You are covered by medical insurance and can comply with the study procedures **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are pregnant or breastfeeding - You have taken steroids, immune-suppressing medications, or antibiotics in the weeks before joining the study - You have another active cancer that could interfere with the study results (unless approved by the study team) Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.