New bowel cancer forecast test is more than 90% correct
3 mins read

New bowel cancer forecast test is more than 90% correct

A new DNA test developed in the UK can precisely predict if high risk patients will develop bowel cancer during the five years.

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – which include condition such as ulcerative colitis and crohns – are up to four times More likely to get this type of cancer, also called colorectal cancer.

As a preventive measure, IBD is usually given more views in the form of colonoscopy – But this new test is more than 90% correct in forecasts of intestinal cancer risk before it even begins.


The man who holds the stomach against a gray background
The test is for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes condition such as ulcerative colitis and crohns. Eddows – stock.adobe.com

While colonoscopies may detect precancerous cells in the intestine, New research By the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in the United Kingdom could better predict which of these pre -cancer cells would be transformed into cancer.

They developed an algorithm that was over 90% correct to decide whether a patient would have colorectal cancer over the next five years.

The tests were carried out with tissue samples, but they hope to use their results to create a blood test that produces the same thing and can be used as a diagnostic tool in hospitals.

“Most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease will not develop bowel cancer,” said Professor Trevor Graham from ICR in a press release.

“But for those who have these conditions and show signs of cores in their colon, there are some tough decisions to make.

“Either they have monitored it regularly, in the hope that it will not be cancer, or if they have removed their gut to guarantee that they will not get cancer in the future. None of these options are particularly nice.

“Our test and algorithm gives people with IBD, and the doctors who care about them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision on how to handle their cancer risk.”

Dr. Iain Foulkes, our CEO of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, hopes that the test will save people time and money on unnecessary tests while receiving care for those who need it faster.

“Treatment for bowel cancer is much more likely to be effective if you catch the disease earlier,” he said.

“Having Crohn’s or Colite is a known risk of bowel cancer, but the risk varies greatly between different people, and until now we have had to take a method in a size that suits everyone to prevent it.

“With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who have really high risk and save health services valuable time and money. We can also give them to lower risk peace and remove the fear of bowel cancer in the future. “