Goodbye to colonoscopy: a new blood test detects colon cancer early

2024-03-13 21:00:02
Colorectal cancer is the most commonly diagnosed tumor in our country for both sexes. A cancer that is caused by the abnormal growth of the cells that make up the tissues of the final tract of the digestive system. In addition, it is the second most lethal cancer after lung cancer; However, if detected early, the probability of cure rises to 90%. Now, two studies published in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’ present two simple techniques, a simple blood test and a stool DNA test, that could further optimize the detection of this dreaded cancer. The blood test designed to detect colorectal cancer in people at average risk and not experiencing symptoms was shown to be able to correctly identify colorectal cancer in 83% of people with confirmed disease. This accuracy rate for colorectal cancer is similar to that of home stool tests used for early detection of colorectal cancer. Related News standard No Age hardens the skin and contributes to the metastasis of melanoma R. Ibarra The findings come from the ECLIPSE study, a clinical trial in which almost 8,000 people between 45 and 84 years old participated and that compared the Guardant’s blood test Shield with colonoscopy, which is the current gold standard for colorectal cancer screening. “The results of the study are a promising step towards the development of more effective tools for the detection of colorectal cancer,” says researcher William M. Grady, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. “The test, which has an accuracy rate for detecting colon cancer similar to stool tests used for early cancer detection, could offer an alternative for patients who might otherwise reject screening options.” current» This data is relevant because, despite the fact that the risk of colorectal cancer is 3 to 4 times higher in first-degree relatives of patients who have suffered this tumor, almost half do not undergo a test to detect cancer early or through screening with the fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy. The stool blood test is a test that, as its name indicates, consists of looking for possible bleeding, one of the symptoms of a colorectal tumor, which has proven to be effective and economical, but which has not managed to catch on among citizens, barely half Of those over 50 years of age who are the target population, they take this test despite the fact that colon cancer is one of the most common in Spain. The most reliable option is colonoscopy, which allows the colon and rectum to be studied with a video camera, but it is uncomfortable, expensive and requires sedating the patient to do so without suffering. This means, according to a recent study recently published in ‘Plos Medicine’, that the acceptance rate is suboptimal, barely 50%. The stool blood test has proven to be effective and economical, but it has not been able to catch on among the public. The Shield test detects signs of colorectal cancer in the blood from the DNA secreted by tumors, which is called circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) . ctDNA is also being used in “liquid biopsy” tests used to monitor cancer recurrence in people who have been treated for cancer and for other emerging cancer screening tests. Of the 7,861 people included in the ‘NEJM’ report, 83.1% of participants with colonoscopy-confirmed colorectal cancer had a positive blood test for ctDNA and 16.9% had a negative test, in which a colonoscopy showed colorectal cancer but the ctDNA test does not. “Colorectal cancer is common and highly preventable through screening, but only about 50% to 60% of people who are eligible for screening actually get screened,” says researcher William Grady. “Getting people to get cancer screening works best when we give them screening options and then let them choose what works best for them.” Blood in stool In the other study, carried out on more than 21,000 at-risk patients in the US, it has been discovered that the next generation of colorectal cancer detection tests with DNA in stool detects 94% of colorectal cancers. This test has the best performance for detecting both colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous polyps of any non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test. The study led by researcher Thomas Imperial of the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine shows that the next-generation stool DNA test showed superior sensitivity for both colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous lesions compared to fecal immunochemical test (FIT), especially for advanced polyps containing high-grade dysplasia. However, the next generation test had approximately 30% better specificity, with fewer false positives compared to the FIT test, the latter having a lower overall false positive rate. Experts recommend the next-generation stool DNA test for average-risk people ages 45 to 65, with no history of inflammatory bowel disease, prior colorectal cancer, or precancerous polyps, but with a strong family history of colorectal cancer.
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