Study backs ColonSentry effectiveness

GeneNews (TSX: GEN) says that a poster describing a 786-patient study entitled “Blood RNA Biomarker Detects Both Left- and Right-sided Colorectal Neoplasms” has been accepted for presentation at the Next Generation Dx Summit in Washington, DC this week.

The poster details the application of a seven-gene biomarker panel, which forms the basis of the company’s lead ColonSentry product, to 377 colorectal cancer patients and 409 controls. The poster concludes that the biomarker panel was able to “detect right-sided colorectal cancer lesions across all stages with a sensitivity that is at least equal to the detection observed for left-sided lesions.”

Colonoscopy is widely regarded as the gold standard for colorectal cancer detection.  Recent studies, however, suggest that its effectiveness is mostly confined to detection of tumours on the left side of the colon, with poor detection of right-sided lesions.

“Routine use of a blood test that can detect both left-sided and right-sided lesions could increase the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening by revealing the potential presence of neoplasms in advance of colonoscopy,” Dr. Robert Burakoff, one of the investigators for the study, said in a statement.

Added GeneNews president Gailina Liew, “The results from this study further demonstrate the value of using ColonSentry as a routine test in advance of colonoscopy to provide a pre-screening alert, ultimately leading to enhanced colorectal cancer screening effectiveness.”