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Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy
Published in: Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy 2/2014

01-04-2014 | Review Article

Blood-Based Testing for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Author: Karen A. Heichman

Published in: Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men and women in the USA and worldwide. While it has been clearly established that screening for CRC, using a variety of methods, is cost effective and has a significant impact on overall survival, screening rates have proven to be sub-optimal. It has been long conjectured that a simple blood-based test, with a specimen drawn at a routine doctor’s office visit, would encourage those individuals who have refused or ignored screening recommendations to undergo screening. This article reviews the currently available blood-based screening tests for CRC, including the ColonSentry™ messenger RNA (mRNA) expression panel and the SEPT9 methylated DNA test, and explores newer biomarkers that are near clinical implementation. Also discussed are additional applications for blood-based CRC testing, such as assessing prognosis, disease surveillance, and expansion of screening tests to high-risk populations, such as the estimated 1.4 million individuals in the USA with inflammatory bowel disease.
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Metadata
Title
Blood-Based Testing for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Author
Karen A. Heichman
Publication date
01-04-2014
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 1177-1062
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40291-013-0074-z

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