Doctors have uncovered a new method of detecting bowel cancer – which is correct in nine out of 10 cases. A study by the Institute of Cancer Research with the help of doctors at specialist bowel hospital St Mark’s in London created a DNA test which had 90% accuracy.
Those behind the research hope their findings can be used to help patients most at risk. Published in the Gut journal and funded by Cancer Research UK, the study followed 122 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, half of which went on to develop bowel cancer within five years.
The study found people with IBD are most at risk of cancer including conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. IBD irritates the lining of the bowel which can cause abnormal pre-cancerous cells to form if it’s left untreated. However, not all IBD patients will develop bowel cancer.
Scientists created an algorithm in their research which calculated a person’s risk of future bowel cancer based on these DNA extracts. The algorithm was more than 90% accurate in predicting if a patient would develop bowel cancer in the next five years.
There are hopes this discovery and algorithm could be turned into a blood test for IBD patients and other people at high risk of bowel cancer. Currently, the half a million Brits with IBD are offered regular checks for the pre-cancerous growths their predisposition to, but this test only indicates a 30% chance of bowel cancer developing in the next 10 years.
Professor Ailsa Hart, co-lead of the study, from St Mark’s, commented on the current tests for IBD patients: “These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services. If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated.”
The researchers also hope their findings could spare people with a lower risk of bowel cancer the stress and discomfort of going for regular colonoscopies. Professor Trevor Graham, from the ICR, which co-led the research, also noted: “Most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease won’t develop bowel cancer.
“But for those that have these conditions and are showing signs of pre-cancer in their colon, there are some tough decisions to make. Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn’t become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don’t get cancer in the future.
“Neither of these options are particularly pleasant.” Executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, Dr Iain Foulkes also pointed out the potential cost and time saving potential if this research is properly implemented.
He said: “Genome sequencing is now far cheaper and more widespread than ever before, and it’s changing how we look at cancer…With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money.”