LOS ANGELES, May 22 (UPI) -- An improved version of the non-invasive fecal stool test demonstrates a higher sensitivity for detecting colon cancer, say New York researchers.
"This is an exciting achievement for this technology. Fecal DNA testing has already shown promise for non-invasive tool for colon cancer detection," said Dr. Steven Itzkowitz of the Mount Sinai Medical Center. "But, we can now say this test is more sensitive which ultimately means better results for the clinician and the patient. Better tests mean greater detection and less loss of life."
Previous studies have shown that a first-generation fDNA test was effective in the detection of colon cancer but partial degradation of DNA was a limitation.
In the second-generation test, the addition of buffer and gel-capture technology, as well as new markers of colon cancer, increased test sensitivity for cancer detection to 88 percent, according to Itzkowitz.
The findings are being presented this week at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Los Angeles.
