OncoMethylome Sciences, with a facility in Durham, has published new data revealing that its methylation markers, when combined in a test panel, prove accurate in detecting early-stage colorectal cancer via stool samples.
The markers demonstrated strong performance in detecting early-stage cancer in stool samples collected from people with all stages of colorectal cancer. When combined in a test panel, the test correctly detected 86 percent of early-stage colon cancers, and it correctly identified, as non-cancerous, 96 percent of controls consisting of stool collected from healthy, age-appropriate, people.
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer and often has no symptoms during its early onset. These characteristics highlight the need for screening age-appropriate, asymptomatic individuals for colorectal cancer.
The colonoscopy procedure, which is a visual exam of the colon, is often used for this purpose; however, because it is invasive and costly, it is not adequately available and accepted. Therefore, the goal of OncoMethylome's colorectal cancer program is to develop non-invasive, user friendly tests that are appropriate for population screening.
OncoMethylome's vision is that its stool-based test would eventually be used by asymptomatic people, to identify those who likely have cancer and should be further examined with a colonoscopy procedure.