title: Reduction in colorectal cancer mortality by fecal occult blood screening in a French controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several randomized population-based studies have shown that screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) by fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) can reduce CRC mortality. The aim of this French population-based study was to assess whether a similar benefit could be obtained in countries characterized by high performances in the diagnosis and management of CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small-sized geographic areas, including 91,199 individuals aged 45-74 years, were allocated to either FOBT screening or no screening. Six screening rounds were performed. The FOBT was performed without diet restriction and was sent to a central analysis center and processed without rehydration. Screening group participants who had a positive test result were offered a full colonoscopy. The entire population was followed up for 11 years after study entry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acceptability of the test was 52.8% at the first screening round and varied between 53.8% and 58.3% in the successive rounds. Positivity rates were 2.1% initially and 1.4% on average in the successive rounds. CRC mortality was significantly lower in the screening population compared with the control population (mortality ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.99). The reduction in CRC mortality was more pronounced in those who participated at least once (mortality ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings, together with the results of other trials, suggest that biennial screening by FOBTs can reduce CRC mortality regardless of the quality of the health system and support attempts to introduce large-scale screening programs into the general population.
authors.affiliation: Burgundy Cancer Registry, INSERM EPI 0106, Faculté de Médecine, BP 87900, 21079 Dijon CEDEX, France. jean.faivre@u-bourgogne.fr
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faivre
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dancourt
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lejeune
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tazi
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamour
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dassonville
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonithon-Kopp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality*; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D015996:Survival Rate