title: First report of screening an asymptomatic population for cancer: the yield of an integrated cancer prevention center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The most effective way to combat cancer is by prevention and early detection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of screening an asymptomatic population for the presence of benign and neoplastic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine screening tests for prevention and/or early detection of 11 common cancers were conducted in 300 consecutive asymptomatic apparently healthy adults aged 25-77 years. Other tests were performed as indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malignant and benign lesions were found in 3.3% and 5% of the screenees, respectively, compared to 1.7% in the general population. The most common lesions were in the gastrointestinal tract followed by skin, urogenital tract and breast. Advanced age and a family history of a malignancy were associated with increased risk for cancer with an odds ratio of 9 and 3.5, respectively (95% confidence interval 1.1-71 and 0.9-13, respectively). Moreover, high serum C-reactive protein levels and polymorphisms in the APC and CD24 genes indicated high cancer risk. When two of the polymorphisms existed in an individual, the risk for a malignant lesion was extremely high (23.1%; OR 14, 95% CI 2.5-78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening asymptomatic subjects identifies a significant number of neoplastic lesions at an early stage. Incorporating data on genetic polymorphisms in the APC and CD24 genes can further identify individuals who are at increased risk for cancer. Cancer can be prevented and/or diagnosed at an early stage using the screening facilities of a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine B, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boursi
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guzner-Gur
authors.forename: Yaquv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mashich
authors.forename: Udi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Miler
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inbar
authors.forename: Arye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blachar
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sperber
authors.forename: Shlomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleiman
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yafo
authors.forename: Hanoch
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elran
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sella
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naumov
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kazanov
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galazan
authors.forename: Netta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reshef
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sion-Tadmor
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rozen
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liberman
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moshkowitz
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors