If approved by the FDA, a new blood test could provide a new option for screening for colorectal cancer.
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If approved by the FDA, a new blood test could provide a new option for screening for colorectal cancer.
Srinophhan69/Getty Images
Colorectal cancer is on the rise, and a new study has found that a blood test can detect it.
The results of the clinical trial were announced on Wednesday. New England Medical Journal, Blood-based screening tests have been shown to detect 83% of patients with colorectal cancer. If approved by the FDA, the blood test would become another screening tool for early detection of cancer.
This test, developed by Guardant Health, can be done by drawing blood. The company says its test detects cancer signals in the bloodstream by identifying circulating tumor DNA.
Dr. Barbara Jung, president of the American College of Gastroenterology, said the test could help detect colorectal cancer early.
“I think blood draws reach more people than invasive tests,” she says. My hope is that we can use more tools to reach more people. ”
But even if a blood test is approved, it won't replace the dreaded colonoscopy. “If the test result is positive, the next step is a colonoscopy,” Jung says. This is because colonoscopies can detect precancerous lesions called polyps.
“And once you find them, you can also remove them, which can prevent cancer from developing,” Jung says.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that routine screening begin at age 45. But about 1 in 3 eligible adults doesn't get screened as recommended, according to the American Cancer Society.
“More than 50 million eligible Americans do not receive recommended colorectal cancer screening, in part because current screening methods are inconvenient or uncomfortable,” said Amir, CEO of Guardant Health. Ali Tarasaz said in a release about the study results.
Currently, effective screening options include stool tests and colonoscopies.
“It's never been easier to get tested,” TR Levin, a gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente, told NPR last year.
Early symptoms of colorectal cancer include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, feeling bloated or bloated, and fatigue. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Additionally, although colorectal cancer is still rare in young adults, its prevalence is increasing. Approximately 20,000 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed each year in the United States.
“Colorectal cancer is rapidly moving toward being diagnosed at younger ages,” concluded the authors of an American Cancer Society report released last year. Since the mid-1990s, the number of infections among people under 50 has increased by about 50%. It is one of the deadliest cancers in this age group.
Guardant Health has already applied for approval from the FDA. A decision is expected to be made later this year.
This article was edited by Jane Greenhalgh
