New test for bowel cancer
Local clinicians have developed a new method of detecting bowel cancer among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Researchers from St Mark’s Hospital used an algorithm to analyse DNA changes in pre-cancerous cells that is 90% accurate.
They are now hoping to develop a simple blood test to identify those most at risk already living with inflammatory bowel disease.
Professor Ailsa Hart, co-lead of the study, from St Mark's, said: "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer.
"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. Finding smarter ways to assess these colons is much needed.
"Here we describe a potential biomarker, which can be readily translated into clinical practice, to improve assessment of patients with IBD and early signs of cancer to help with the decision for surgery."
The research was funded by Cancer Research UK and conducted in partnership with the Institute of Cancer Research.