(dailyRx)
Treating colon cancer early is important, but due to the inconvenience of colonoscopy, many people never get screened. A new test for colon cancer is being evaluated that may improve compliance.
In research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, an experimental test for colon cancer that does not require a colonoscopy was closely examined to see if it worked out in the field as well as it had in the lab.
The highly sensitive test was evaluated to see if any differences in patient population changed the results. After results were cross-checked against a colonoscopy, the study found that only advanced age affected the results, but in further development this effect could adjusted.
The test worked well in all 500 patients examined, regardless of gender, race, alcohol, tobacco, obesity, or medication use.
The multimarker stool test uses the same principles behind the fecal occult blood test by analyzing stool for traces of cancer. The test was developed because the cost of colonoscopy for some patients is prohibitive, and less than half of patients are having regular colorectal cancer screenings.
“This test, if broadly applied, should have a very important impact on reducing both the mortality and incidence of colorectal cancer,” test developer, David Ahlquist, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic.
Most importantly, he added, “Patients don’t have to change their lifestyle to have this test.” Increased screening for colorectal cancer would directly reduce mortality, as treatment for colorectal cancer is very simple as well as curative in early stages of the disease.
Neither price nor availability of the multimarker stool test has been announced yet. The test monitors expression of the genes TFPI2 and BMP3 in the stool.
Results from medical conference abstracts are considered preliminary until published in a peer reviewed journal.
Both The Mayo Clinic and Dr. Ahlquist stated a financial interest in this technology presented in the research.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer this year, and close to 50,000 deaths. The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is one out of every twenty Americans.
Colorectal cancer is the result of uncontrolled malignant growth of the glands that line the inside of the colon and rectum (cancer of the anus is a separate entity). Most colorectal cancers take years to develop, beginning with small growths called polyps or adenomas. These are benign, but can progress over time to become malignant cancers.