The Reading Room:New Assay Detects 100 Percent of Stage I, II and III Colon Cancers in Pre-Clinical

tootsie1 said:

Great
Thanks for sharing something so hopeful!

*hugs*
Gail

Devising a better test...
I, too, look forward to someone devising a 100%-accurate and easy test for colon cancer.

The company to whom the article I posted refers seems to be on the right track, albeit an early "right track" in terms of testing. The variability in the accuracy of the testing (100% or 93% or 96% in another article) seems to relate to false positive and false negative results in late-stage disease. I can't imagine why the blood test would catch 100% of stage-one colon cancers (in early tests) but only 93% of stage-four colon cancers (in early tests). I'm sure that is what the company is trying to figure out as well.

That said, 100% or 93% or 96% accuracy in a easier-to-handle and potentially less-expensive test would seem to be a real step forward. Imagine the number of people who would get tested if a more accurate and less-unpleasant test were available? I think we could see a true sea-change in the war against this awful disease.

Additionally, this article got me wondering how accurate colonoscopies are. I haven't yet been able to find a 2009 article, but I did find the following, very interesting article from the Seattle Times dated 2008:

Link:Colonoscopies less accurate than expected, may miss cancers

Hatshepsut

PGLGreg said:

ASGE response
I ran across a response to this Canadian study from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy here.

“Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening for its ability to detect and remove polyps before they turn into cancer. Colonoscopy’s effectiveness is evidenced in the recent decline in the incidence and death rates from colorectal cancer announced last month by leading cancer organizations,” said John Petrini, MD, FASGE, president of the ASGE.

“While colonoscopy is not a perfect test, this study should not deter anyone from undergoing a colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening,” he added. “Approximately 70 percent of the colonoscopies performed in this study were not done by gastroenterologists. Studies have shown that missed lesion rates are higher for internists and family practice physicians doing colonoscopy. We urge patients to log on to www.asge.org to find a qualified, expertly-trained gastrointestinal endoscopist to perform their colonoscopy and to ask questions about their qualifications.”

Devising a better test...(con't)
Thank you for posting the ASGE's reply to the Canadian study results.

Like so many facets of fighting this disease, patients need all the perspectives ( vis-a-vis the accuracy of the tests they take)-- be they CEA tests, colonoscopies or any other related tests.

I certainly believe that a properly-administered colonoscopy is the "gold standard" in colon cancer diagnosis at this point in time (short of a full surgical intervention) and I applaud the ASGE's emphasis on having a properly-trained physician administer the test.( I doubt that the Canadian doctors would disagree.) I know I certainly appreciate the expertise of the doctors who have treated my husband. Their effective treatment of my husband saved his life.

I do hope, however, that a more "user-friendly" test eventually emerges. Perhaps that will be the blood test discussed in the article I posted. Maybe it will be something else. Whatever it is, we are all on the same page in wanting people at risk of colon cancer to have the best options.

I would be interested if you could post any statistical (ASGE-approved) data about the accuracy of colonoscopies preformed in the U.S. by ASGE-trained physicians.

Hatshepsut