Non-invasive colorectal cancer screening
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world and is the second most common cause of Canadian cancer-related deaths in men and the third most common in women. Most CRC appears to arise from the gradual development and advancement of colonic adenomatous polyps to cancerous tissue. This developmental process of CRC is the rationale for screening programs which aim to reduce CRC-related morbidity and mortality by early detection and removal of adenomatous polyps, specifically advanced adenomas. Although both the gFOBT and FIT function to detect occult bleeding in asymptomatic patients at average risk for CRC development, the mechanisms of these screening tests are distinct. gFOBT works by detecting the peroxidase activity of heme whereas FIT selectively detects human hemoglobin. The sensitivity in detecting CRC is higher for the FIT, with sensitivity of 0.79 compared to gFOBT with sensitivity of 0.36, they have similar specificities of 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. Currently, both the gFOBT and FIT are strongly recommended across Canada, with all provinces using the FIT, apart from Ontario and Manitoba which currently use the gFOBT to screen asymptomatic patients for CRC. A newer test, the sDNA test, identifies mutations in DNA that are shed by both adenomatous polyps and CRC cells. The sDNA test is more sensitive (0.92 95% CI 0.83-0.98) than both the gFOBT and FIT, however, is less specific and more expensive. Further data surrounding the sDNA test will be required prior to its implementation and recommendation for population based CRC screening in Canada.