Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening with MMP9 Testing
Author Information
Author(s): Sue Wilson, Taina Taskila, Tariq Ismail, Deborah D Stocken, Ashley Martin, Val Redman, Michael Wakelam, Ian Perry, Richard Hobbs
Primary Institution: The University of Birmingham
Hypothesis
Does measuring MMP9 enhance the predictive value of a positive FOBt in colorectal cancer screening?
Conclusion
The study aims to determine if MMP9 testing can improve the accuracy of colorectal cancer screening and reduce false positives.
Supporting Evidence
- Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.
- FOBt screening has a sensitivity of 57.7% and a low positive predictive value.
- MMP9 has shown potential as a marker for colorectal cancer in pilot studies.
Takeaway
This study is trying to find out if a blood test for a specific enzyme can help doctors better identify people who might have bowel cancer after a positive stool test.
Methodology
Participants aged 60-69 with positive FOBt will provide blood samples for MMP9 testing before colonoscopy.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors related to other health conditions affecting MMP9 levels will be considered.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the selected population of participants.
Participant Demographics
Participants are FOBt positive individuals aged 60-69 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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