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New Era for Stool Screening Tests: Fecal Immunochemical Tests, DNA, and Beyond

  • Prevention and Early Detection (N Arber, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Colorectal cancer screening with stool-based studies is a common screening modality with proven clinical effectiveness. However, guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests have significant limitations, most notably in lesion sensitivity and patient compliance. Recently increasing data and commercial development of fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and stool tests based on molecular markers in feces has expanded the field of stool-based screening. FIT and stool-based DNA and RNA tests can improve detection of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas, possibly expand numbers of patients screened, and may be the foundation of future population screening protocols. This article reviews the most important literature published on colorectal cancer screening with FIT, fecal DNA, and other stool-based molecular markers.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Disclosure

J. M. Weiss: none; P. R. Pfau: consultant to Exact Sciences.

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  1. Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Wisconsin Medical School H6/516 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792-5124, USA

    Jennifer M. Weiss & Patrick R. Pfau

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  1. Jennifer M. Weiss
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Correspondence to Patrick R. Pfau.

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Weiss, J.M., Pfau, P.R. New Era for Stool Screening Tests: Fecal Immunochemical Tests, DNA, and Beyond. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 8, 1–5 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-011-0111-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-011-0111-4

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