The one developed by the Diatech group, in collaboration with the IRST (Romagna Scientific Institute for the Study and Treatment of Tumors) represents a real revolution in the oncology field. We are talking about a brand new laboratory test for the early detection of colorectal cancer that will probably put the old colonoscopy in the cellar. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Irst headquarters in Meldola. The innovative kit is called «EasyPGX® ready FL-DNA», and is able to identify preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the colorectal (CRC). Colon cancer diagnosis, a ddio colonoscopy
How many of you are willing to have a colonoscopy as a screening test in order to evaluate any early stage cancer masses
Probably few because it is a highly invasive and decidedly unpleasant exam. From now on, however, all these people will be able to rely on a much safer and more innovative test. EasyPGX, in fact, allows to evaluate – with a much higher precision than occult blood in the faeces – the type of DNA that comes from the exfoliation cells of the colon mucosa. In addition to not being as invasive as a colonoscopy, the instrument is also decidedly cheaper because it costs less than a third of the price (about 40 euros compared to 150 for a colonoscopy). An ideal collaboration
If many patients will finally have non-invasive methods available for the diagnosis of such serious pathologies, it is above all due to the collaboration of two important realities: the Diatech Group, leader in Italy in the sector of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics and the Romagna Scientific Institute for the Study. and the treatment of Tumors (IRST) IRCCS of Meldola (FC), one of the main Centers for Scientific and Technological Research in Italy. “Launching such an innovative product, the result of a partnership that began in 2006 – declares Mattia Altini, IRST Health Director – represents in a paradigmatic way how the future of the National and Regional Health Service depends more and more on the ability of health companies to select market partners. able to enhance the know-how of its professionals and the research carried out. In this way, scientific insights can be put to “value” for the whole system: we are sure that what we achieve with Diatech will be able to “generate” resources to be reinvested in research and assistance. This is precisely the objective of the Technology Transfer Offices and Grant Offices which the Ministry of Health itself is promoting and which has been part of our Institute’s development strategy for years ».Goodbye colonoscopy: how the new diagnosis of colorectal cancer works
The result of the test is carried out thanks to the information obtained from the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). Through this it will be possible to detect patients who are more likely to have a pre-neoplastic or neoplastic lesion of the colon. “The detection of occult blood in the faeces (FOBT), the test used for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in screening programs, has a low specificity, demonstrated by the frequent false positive results in case of bleeding due to ulcers, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease and hemorrhoids. This leads to the use of subsequent invasive and costly endoscopic investigations. Some studies conducted by the researchers of our Institute have shown, however, that the quantity of long-sized DNA fragments in feces is significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in patients with pre-cancerous lesions and in healthy individuals ”, explains Daniele Calistri, Head of Advanced and Predictive Molecular Diagnostics Unit. The bad news is that the test will soon be available for the foreign market while Italy is still waiting for a partner.
Colonoscopy No more colonoscopy, a safe and innovative test arrives
«It is a particularly innovative biological and non-chemical test based on a specific method of fecal DNA analysis. While occult blood provides us with precise information on one aspect, namely the microscopic loss of blood associated with even quite early but not very early forms of colorectal cancer, the test we have developed and patented allows us to obtain much more in-depth information. . In addition to improving the diagnostics of FOBT, therefore, we will be able to identify the type of DNA alteration and qualitative and quantitative information on the levels of developmental risk of both precancerous lesions and the natural history of the identified tumor itself. Furthermore, the test can also be used in the monitoring of subjects already operated for colon cancer which, as known, they are exposed to the risk of subsequent loco-regional relapses. These are the most interesting clinical applications, which however require that the fecal material be collected and stored in the best conditions. Future developments could also be envisaged in the use of the test to monitor, for example, the therapeutic effects of treatments in subjects with persistence of the primary tumor, but this aspect will require further investigation “, concludes prof. Dino Amadori, Scientific Director emeritus of the IRST. the therapeutic effects of treatments in subjects with persistence of the primary tumor, but this aspect will require further investigation “, concludes prof. Dino Amadori, Scientific Director emeritus of the IRST. the therapeutic effects of treatments in subjects with persistence of the primary tumor, but this aspect will require further investigation “, concludes prof. Dino Amadori, Scientific Director emeritus of the IRST.Scientific sources
[1] Colorectal cancer: an innovative tool has been developed that can revolutionize early diagnostics – Diatech PahrmaGenetics
