We've noticed that you're using an ad blocker

Our content is brought to you free of charge because of the support of our advertisers. To continue enjoying our content, please turn off your ad blocker.

It's off now Dismiss How do I disable my ad blocker?
❌

How to disable your ad blocker for our site:

Adblock / Adblock Plus
  • Click on the AdBlock / AdBlock Plus icon on the top right of your browser.
  • Click “Don’t run on pages on this domain.” OR “Enabled on this site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Firefox Tracking Prevention
  • If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may casue the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar.
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Ghostery
  • Click the Ghostery icon on your browser.
  • In Ghostery versions < 6.0 click “Whitelist site.” in version 6.0 click “Trust site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
uBlock / uBlock Origin
  • Click the uBlock / uBlock Origin icon on your browser.
  • Click the “power” button in the menu that appears to whitelist the current website
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
  • ONCOLOGY
  • News
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Hematology
  • Image IQ
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Slideshows
  • Conferences

Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Skip to main content
Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Menu
User
Home
  • ONCOLOGY
  • News
  • Blogs
  • Topics
  • Hematology
  • Image IQ
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Slideshows
  • Conferences

SUBSCRIBE: Print / eNewsletter

Immunochemical FOBT Confirms Positive Guaiac FOBT

Feb 1, 2006
Volume: 
15
Issue: 
2
  • Colorectal Cancer

DUNDEE, Scotland-Practice standards call for colonoscopy for all patients who have positive guaiac fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening for colorectal cancer. A new study suggests that using a confirmatory immunochemical FOBT in patients who are only weakly or moderately positive on guaiac FOBT would eliminate many false positives and reduce the need for colonoscopy without jeopardizing outcomes.

Callum G. Fraser, PhD, and his colleagues estimate that this two-tiered approach might reduce the need for colon-oscopy by about 30%, with major implications for costs, patient inconvenience, and colonoscopy-associated morbidity (The Lancet Oncology, published online January 6, 2006. DOI:10.1016/S1470-2045(05)70473-3).

The study subjects (age 50 to 69) were participating in a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a national colorectal screening program based on non-dietary-restricted guaiac FOBT testing. In this study, participants with a strongly positive guaiac FOBT (five or six positive ovals) were offered colonoscopy without further testing. Those with a weakly positive test (one to four positive ovals) were asked to do a second test, and if any oval was positive, colonoscopy was offered. If all six ovals were negative, a third guaiac FOBT was requested. If any oval was positive on the third test, colonoscopy was offered.

In the current study, patients with positive guaiac FOBT results indicating a need for colonoscopy were offered immunochemical FOBT before the procedure. Two samples were taken for immunochemical FOBT testing; these were scored as both negative (N/N); one negative, one positive (N/P); or both positive (P/P). A total of 801 patients returned all required samples, and 795 of these had colonoscopy.

Study Results

The extent of guaiac FOBT positivity correlated significantly with immunochemical FOBT positivity, Dr. Fraser reported, and positive immunochemical FOBT testing correlated with a finding of colorectal cancer on colonoscopy. The results showed that 38 (8%) of 497 patients who were P/P on immunochemical FOBT had colorectal cancer, compared with only 1 (less than 1%) of 171 N/N subjects and 1 (less than 1%) of 127 N/P participants (odds ratio 7.57). Sensitivity and specificity of immunochemical FOBT for cancer were 95% and 39.5%, respectively. In addition, subjects with P/P immunochemical FOBT were more likely to have large adenomatous polyps (larger than 10 mm diameter) or multiple adenomatous polyps (more than three) than those who were N/N or N/P (odds ratio 3.11).

"We have shown a positive relation between strength of positivity on guaiac FOBT and the results of immunochemical FOBT," Dr. Fraser said. "Our findings suggest that the small number of individuals who are strongly positive [defined as 5 or 6 positive ovals] on first guaiac FOBT should not have immunochemical FOBT and should proceed directly to colonoscopy, thus improving screening efficiency."

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »

Related Articles

  • Inhibit CXCR4 to Treat CRC and Pancreatic Cancer
  • ACS Nutrition, Activity Guidelines Boost Survival in Stage III CRC
  • Modified XELIRI Noninferior to FOLFIRI for Metastatic CRC
  • A3AR Agonists May Help Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain
  • Less Risk of Distal Colon Cancer With Lower Red Meat Intake?

Resource Topics rightRail

  • Resource Topics
  • Partner Content
Breast Cancer
Lung Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Melanoma
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome
3 Keys to Success in the Oncology Care Model

Current Issue

Oncology Vol 32 No 4
Apr 15, 2018 Vol 32 No 4
Digital Edition
Subscribe
Connect with Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
Modern Medicine Network
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Terms
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Editorial & Advertising Policy
  • Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
Modern Medicine Network
© UBM 2018, All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.