Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) claims 900,000 lives per year. Colonoscopy offers reliable detection, but with low patient adherence rates. To significantly reduce CRC incidence and mortality, a more convenient screening measure for advanced precancerous lesions (APL) and CRC is urgently needed.
Methods: In this study, the clinical performance of a multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test combining fecal im-munochemical test (FIT) with the analysis of genetic biomarkers by real-time PCR was evaluated in a cohort of 208 subjects.
Results: The mt-sDNA test showed a sensitivity of 84.2% for CRC (all stages) and 39.6% sensitivity for APL detection with a specificity of 91.5%. Within the APL group, high-grade dysplasia, characterized by the highest risk of further cancer progression, were detected with 75% sensitivity.
Conclusions: The mt-sDNA test represents a significant advancement for non-invasive detection of APL and CRC and bears great potential to enhance CRC prevention, incidence, and mortality.