This groundbreaking method can predict bowel cancer with 90% accuracy, new research finds

A groundbreaking new method for detecting bowel cancer has shown over 90 per cent accuracy in predicting which high-risk individuals, particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, are likely to develop the condition.

Research funded by Cancer Research UK has revealed that this method can accurately assess the likelihood of bowel cancer in IBD patients over the next five years.

This development brings us closer to a potential blood test that could help doctors identify which IBD patients are most at risk, offering a promising new tool in the fight against the disease, SurreyLive reports.

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Professor Trevor Graham, from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), which was integral to the study, said: "Most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease won’t develop bowel cancer."

He went on to explain the difficult choice faced by IBD patients who show precancerous signs in their colon, saying: "Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn’t become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don’t get cancer in the future. Neither of these options are particularly pleasant."

Professor Graham expressed optimism about the impact of the new test and its accompanying algorithm on patient decision-making. He said: "Our test and algorithm give people with IBD, and the doctors who care for them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision about how to manage their cancer risk. We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest."

Inflammatory bowel disease, if left untreated, can lead to the development of abnormal pre-cancerous cells in the bowel, increasing the risk of bowel cancer.

Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), in collaboration with clinicians at St Mark’s Hospital, a UK specialist in bowel conditions, have identified a key factor in assessing cancer risk: individuals with IBD who have multiple DNA copy losses in pre-cancerous cells are significantly more likely to develop bowel cancer.

To enhance risk prediction, the team developed an innovative algorithm that analyses DNA changes in pre-cancerous lesions, offering a more precise way to predict future bowel cancer risk.

This breakthrough could spare many patients from the anxiety of regular colonoscopies or the need for invasive surgeries, such as bowel removal, if their risk is found to be low.

Co-lead of the study, Professor Ailsa Hart from St Mark's Hospital, highlighted the significant challenges faced by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer. These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services."

She emphasised the need for alternatives: "If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated. Finding smarter ways to assess these colons is much needed."

Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, praised the impact of genome sequencing in cancer research: "Genome sequencing is now far cheaper and more widespread than ever before, and it’s changing how we look at cancer."

He explained how this breakthrough is advancing cancer understanding: "Getting a full readout of tumour DNA means we can see a much bigger picture of how someone’s cancer started and how it is likely to change over time."

Dr Foulkes further emphasised the practical benefits of this groundbreaking research for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), noting: "With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money."

He also recognised the reassurance it offers to patients at lower risk, adding: "We can also give those at lower risk peace of mind and remove the fear of bowel cancer in the future."

The study, published in Gut, analysed pre-cancerous cell samples from 122 IBD patients. Within five years, around half of the participants developed bowel cancer, while the others did not. A detailed DNA scan of all the samples showed that those who went on to develop cancer had experienced multiple DNA copy losses in their pre-cancerous cells.

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