SCREESCO Study: Early Colorectal Cancer Detection

New research from Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrates that colorectal cancer screening via colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) leads to earlier detection of the disease. The SCREESCO study, involving over 278,000 60-year-olds in Sweden, compared these screening methods against usual care. Results showed a significant increase in early-stage cancer diagnoses and a decrease in advanced cases in the screened groups, particularly with FIT. While minor adverse events were noted, overall mortality remained unchanged. The study will continue until 2030 to assess long-term mortality reduction. This research supports the expansion of national screening programs, such as Sweden's ongoing rollout, and highlights the potential for improved patient outcomes through early detection. Companies like Exact sciences and Guardant Health, developing new screening technologies, are poised to benefit from increased market attention to colorectal cancer screening.