Translational Medicine
Open Access

Improvements of colorectal cancer screening by development and implementation blood-based biomarker concepts

14^th Annual Conference on Translational Medicine and Oncologists Meet

November 28-30, 2016 San Francisco, USA

Hans J Nielsen

Hvidovre Hospital- University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Keynote: Transl Med

Abstract :

Screening concepts for colorectal cancer (CRC) are either under implementation or already implemented in most industrialized countries. The current concept is based on occult human blood in a feces test i.e. FIT screening. Persons with a positive test are offered a subsequent colonoscopy to verify the source of occult blood. The FIT test has an excellent sensitivity of 75% at 90-95% specificity. The compliance is however, only 65%, which leads to a clinical sensitivity of <50% (0.75 x 0.65). Long story short: >50% of those subjects with an occult bowel neoplasia in the screen relevant populations are not identified. Therefore, development and implementation of improved screening concepts is urgently needed. Such concept appears to be based on analysis of proteomics, genomics, epigenomics and metabolomics in blood samples and statistically performing various combinations by data fusion. Results of major prospective, clinical studies with focus on subjects referred to colonoscopy due to symptoms attributable to CRC are compelling. In addition, results of retrospective studies have indicated that biomarker profiles may identify subjects at risk of developing primary intra- or extra-colonic malignancy subsequent to colonoscopy with diagnosis of clean colorectum. Collectively, such results have led to validation of the screening concept of blood-based biomarker combinations in large series of subjects undergoing FIT screening. Preliminary results have confirmed the results previously achieved in populations of symptomatic subjects.

Biography :

Hans J Nielsen has completed his MD (1989) and DMSc (1995) from the University of Copenhagen. He has more than 25 years of experience in Translational and Clinical Research mostly with focus on colorectal cancer, including tumor-and trauma-immunology and adverse effects to blood transfusion. He is currently the Head of Surgical Immunological Laboratory and PI of major studies on early detection of primary malignancy and of recurrence as well. He has published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals and currently is the Mentor of more than 30 PhD and Doctoral thesis students.

Email: h.j.nielsen360@gmail.com