Earlier detection – fewer unnecessary procedures

Every year, thousands of healthy Danes undergo unnecessary, invasive telescopic examinations, or colonoscopies, in the course of screening for colorectal cancer. These examinations are stressful for patients and a burden for the health service, involving costs, waiting times and risks, but only 2-5% of the examinations lead to a cancer diagnosis. At the same time, there are several groups who do not take part in the current screening programmes, so they may risk later detection and poorer chances of successful treatment.

For many years, the colorectal cancer research unit at Hvidovre Hospital has sought to improve cancer detection. With the project for Early detection of cancer using novel biomarkers and analytical tools the unit has made progress with research and development of new non-invasive screening methods which can reveal cancer of the colon and urinary tract at the early stages by means of biomarkers in blood, urine and stools.

The project has already shown promising results. Work is now in progress to extend and validate these methods in three central groups: healthy individuals, patients with symptoms, and individuals with hereditary risk of cancer (HNPCC).

“We are delighted that the Vissing Foundation has decided to support our research. The aim is to make it possible to detect cancer earlier, and provide more effective, accessible and egalitarian means of preventing cancer – for the benefit of patients, the health services and society,” says Christina Therkildsen, Senior Researcher at the Clinical Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre.