Blood-Based Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Do They Threaten the Survival of the FIT Test?

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in industrialized nations, accounting for 10 % of the total cancer burden with an individual lifetime risk of ~6 % in the USA (Siegel et al. in CA Cancer J Clin 62:9–29, 2014, American Cancer Society in Colorectal cancer facts and figures 2011–2013. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, 2011, Siegel et al. in CA Cancer J Clin 61:212–236, 2011). Although numerous screening methods have been incorporated into guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, no guideline includes a noninvasive blood-based test as a recommended option.