title: Stool-based DNA tests for colorectal cancer: clinical potential and early results.
abstract: Stool-based DNA testing is a promising new diagnostic tool with the potential to improve the overall effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening. Early clinical studies suggest that multi-target, DNA-based stool tests are capable of detecting both premalignant adenomas and cancers with high sensitivity and specificity. Screening compliance could be enhanced by the user-friendly features of stool-based DNA testing which include: the testing is noninvasive, requires no cathartic bowel preparation or diet or medication restrictions, and requires just a single specimen per screen. Large, multicenter, comparative studies addressing the performance of stool-based DNA testing in the general population will soon be completed and will promise to validate the readiness of this approach for widespread application.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ahlquist
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm