http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/colorectal-cancer-screening-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Wed, 22 May 2013 19:29:13 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/new-smartphone-app-aids-in-patients-preparation-for-colonoscopy-119191-1.htm A new study presented at the Digestive Disease Week in Florida suggests that using a smartphone application can significantly improve patients' preparation for a colonoscopy. The preparation process, which begins days in advance of the procedure, includes dietary restrictions and requires specific bowel preparation medication to be taken at strict intervals. The better the preparation, the easier it is for doctors to see cancer and precancerous polyps in the colon. The study, which was conducted ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-smartphone-app-aids-in-patients-preparation-for-colonoscopy-119191-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/time-to-tumor-growth-indicates-survival-benefit-for-patients-with-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-118750-1.htm Survival Benefit For Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer can be predicted with the time to tumor growth. Certara, a leading provider of software and scientific consulting services to improve productivity and decision-making from drug discovery through drug development, announced that its Pharsight Consulting Services has developed a mathematical model of tumor growth inhibition, which when combined with baseline prognostic factors, predicts treatment effect with bevacizumab for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/time-to-tumor-growth-indicates-survival-benefit-for-patients-with-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-118750-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-colorectal-cancer-risk-among-overweight-people-who-snore-and-sleep-long-118224-1.htm A significant positive association between long sleep duration and the development of colorectal cancer, especially among persons who are overweight or snore regularly is reported in a new study. The results raise the possibility that obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to cancer risk. "Our current study adds to the very limited literature regarding the relationship between sleep duration and/or sleep quality and colorectal cancer risk," said lead author Xuehong Zhang, MD, ScD, instructor ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/increased-colorectal-cancer-risk-among-overweight-people-who-snore-and-sleep-long-118224-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/soy-based-treatment-for-colorectal-cancer-117390-1.htm In colorectal cancer patients, soy-based compound was found to lower tumor cell accumulation, finds study. The development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is largely driven by cellular signaling in the Wnt pathway, a network of proteins critical to cellular growth. Hyperactivity of the Wnt signaling pathway occurs in more than 85 percent of colon and rectal cancers. Previous research has shown that genistein, a natural supplement containing soy, modulates Wnt signaling through epigenetic mechanisms....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/soy-based-treatment-for-colorectal-cancer-117390-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/research-says-different-drug-combinations-effective-for-prevention-versus-treatment-of-colorectal-cancer-117092-1.htm Official data shows that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Once colorectal cancer has spread to other parts of the body, only 11 percent of patients will survive five years from the date of their diagnosis. Most colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas-cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids. Adenocarcinomas begin as benign tumors called adenomas, which become malignant over time. By treating adenomas before ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/research-says-different-drug-combinations-effective-for-prevention-versus-treatment-of-colorectal-cancer-117092-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/virtual-colonoscopy-is-used-appropriately-says-penn-study-116983-1.htm The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) halted reimbursement for so-called "virtual colonoscopy" for routine colon-cancer screening in asymptomatic patients in 2009. This was done in part due to concerns over how this procedure, computed tomography colonography (CTC), was being used in the elderly population. In the first study to examine appropriate utilization of the test among asymptomatic Medicare beneficiaries from 2007 to 2008, a research team from the Perelman School of ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/virtual-colonoscopy-is-used-appropriately-says-penn-study-116983-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/mammography-and-colonoscopy-will-soon-become-a-routine-preventive-health-care-115532-1.htm Routine preventive health care for adults may include genetic testing alongside the now familiar tests for cholesterol levels, mammography and colonoscopy in ten years time. As genomic testing prepares to enter the realm of general medical care, an interdisciplinary team of researchers is suggesting in a commentary in the May 2013 issue of iGenetics in Medicine/i, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), that now is the time to explore genetic ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mammography-and-colonoscopy-will-soon-become-a-routine-preventive-health-care-115532-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-screening-reduces-colorectal-cancer-risk-115269-1.htm In a recent study it was found that colonoscopy screening could cut the risk of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in either the right or left side of the colon. In recent years, colonoscopy has begun to rapidly replace sigmoidoscopy - a procedure used to detect abnormalities in the rectum and left side of the colon - despite initially limited evidence of its efficacy and higher cost. In the new study, researchers noted an overall 70 percent reduction of advanced CRC diagnoses associated with receiving a screening colonoscopy....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-screening-reduces-colorectal-cancer-risk-115269-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/safety-of-colonoscopy-confirmed-in-new-study-115195-1.htm Previous research has shown that colon cancer develops slowly as precancerous lesions usually need many years to turn into a dangerous cancer. They are well detectable in an endoscopic examination of the colon called colonoscopy and can be removed during the same examination. Therefore, regular screening can prevent colon cancer much better than other types of cancer. Since 2002, colonoscopy is part of the national statutory cancer screening program in Germany for all insured persons aged 55 or older....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/safety-of-colonoscopy-confirmed-in-new-study-115195-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-physical-inactivity-linked-to-colorectal-cancer-114967-1.htm A high body mass index and lack of physical activity was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, finds research published in Cancer Research. "We know that exercise and avoiding obesity decrease colorectal cancer risk, but little is known about why," said Shuji Ogino, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. "In this study, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/obesity-physical-inactivity-linked-to-colorectal-cancer-114967-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/genes-associated-with-an-increased-risk-of-colorectal-cancer-discovered-114637-1.htm Four genetic variations that are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer have been discovered by scientists. Peters and colleagues from 40 institutes throughout the world published their findings ahead of the April print issue of iGastroenterology/i. Peters and colleagues for the past four years have been studying the genes linked to colorectal cancer through the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, a collaboration involving researchers from North ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/genes-associated-with-an-increased-risk-of-colorectal-cancer-discovered-114637-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/phone-and-mailed-interventions-significantly-increase-colorectal-cancer-screening-rates-study-113732-1.htm According to a study a mailing or phone call to help patients get screened for colorectal cancer significantly increases their chances of actually getting tested. The study was published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson/a. The research team, led by Ronald E. Myers, Ph.D./a, Professor and Director of Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/phone-and-mailed-interventions-significantly-increase-colorectal-cancer-screening-rates-study-113732-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mathematical-model-helps-predict-response-to-chemotherapy-for-colorectal-cancer-112974-1.htm With the help of a new mathematical model scientists are now able to predict which patients with colorectal cancer will respond to chemotherapy. The new model measures the amount of stress required for a cancer cell to die without harming healthy tissue. The results of this study are published in iCancer Research/i, a journal of the American Association for iCancer Research/i. "Our study demonstrates that systems medicine approaches (i.e., quantitative analysis of multiple factors ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mathematical-model-helps-predict-response-to-chemotherapy-for-colorectal-cancer-112974-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/arqule-inc-reveals-experimental-colorectal-cancer-drug-fails-to-extend-survival-in-trial-112756-1.htm American drug maker ArQule Inc revealed that its experimental colorectal cancer drug, developed in collaboration with Japan's Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, has failed to achieve its main goal of extending the progression-free survival period in patients in a trial. The experimental drug, known as tivantinib, was ArQule's lead candidate with the company also hoping that the drug could be used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer. The company said that while the drug was able to slightly ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/arqule-inc-reveals-experimental-colorectal-cancer-drug-fails-to-extend-survival-in-trial-112756-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/ms-drug-shows-promise-in-treating-colorectal-cancer-112701-1.htm Fingolimod, a drug used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), according to researchers. The study, published online in the journal iCancer Cell/i, was led by Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., Mann T. and Sara D. Lowry Chair in Oncology, co-leader of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at VCU Massey Cancer Center and chair of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at the VCU School of Medicine. Spiegel's ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/ms-drug-shows-promise-in-treating-colorectal-cancer-112701-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-discover-genetic-links-to-colorectal-cancer-111916-1.htm Three novel genetic hotspots linked to colorectal cancer have been identified by scientists. These variants, reported Dec. 23 in an Advanced Online Publication in iNature Genetics/i, provide new insight into the biology of colorectal cancer - and could represent new therapeutic targets for the disease. Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide - and rates are particularly high in the United States and other developed countries. Genetics plays an ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/scientists-discover-genetic-links-to-colorectal-cancer-111916-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/patients-who-inherit-colorectal-cancer-may-require-aggressive-treatment-111510-1.htm When people with a family history of colorectal cancer get the disease, their tumors often carry a molecular sign that the cancer could be life-threatening and may require aggressive treatment. This was reported by scientists of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in a new study. The finding, reported in the iJournal of the National Cancer Institute/i, draws on data from studies that have tracked the health of tens of thousands of people over several decades. It suggests that colorectal cancer ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/patients-who-inherit-colorectal-cancer-may-require-aggressive-treatment-111510-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/simple-breath-test-could-diagnose-colorectal-cancer-110995-1.htm Simple breath analysis could be used for colorectal cancer screening, say researchers. Cancer tissue has different metabolism compared to normal healthy cells and produces some substances which can be detected in the breath of these patients. Analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) linked to cancer is a new frontier in cancer screening. Led by Donato F. Altomare, MD, of the Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation at the University Aldo Moro of Bari, researchers ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/simple-breath-test-could-diagnose-colorectal-cancer-110995-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/electrically-conductive-polymer-can-kill-colorectal-cancer-cells-110384-1.htm To develop revolutionary polymer nanoparticles (PNs) for a medical application, researchers have modified electrically-conductive polymers, commonly used in solar energy applications. When the nanoparticles are exposed to infrared light, they generate heat that can be used to kill colorectal cancer cells. The study was directed by Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nicole H. Levi-Polyachenko, Ph.D., and done in collaboration with colleagues at the Center for Nanotechnology ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/electrically-conductive-polymer-can-kill-colorectal-cancer-cells-110384-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/changes-in-dna-sequence-of-genes-influence-risk-of-colorectal-cancer-in-african-americans-109311-1.htm A new study presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities reveals that the risk of colorectal cancer in African Americans can be influenced by how the body produces and destroys vitamin D due to changes in DNA sequence of genes. "Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk for colorectal cancer," said Fabio Pibiri, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Because increased skin pigment lowers the amount of ultraviolet ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/changes-in-dna-sequence-of-genes-influence-risk-of-colorectal-cancer-in-african-americans-109311-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-colonoscopy-could-decrease-colorectal-cancer-rates-109164-1.htm According to a new study, use of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening could explain a significant decrease in the cancer's incidence over the past decade. The study was led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Although colonoscopy is now the most common colorectal cancer screening method, there has been conflicting evidence as to its effectiveness compared with sigmoidoscopy, a method that examines only a portion of the colon. The team scrutinized data collected ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-colonoscopy-could-decrease-colorectal-cancer-rates-109164-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/aspirin-may-extend-survival-for-some-colorectal-cancer-patients-109048-1.htm According to a recent study, taking aspirin can prolong the life of patients suffering from colorectal cancers with a specific genetic mutation. The study of 900 patients carried out by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute -- an affiliate of Harvard Medical School -- found that the painkiller produced a "sharp jump in survival" among certain patients. "For patients whose tumours harboured a mutation in the gene PIK3CA, aspirin use produced a sharp jump in survival," with 97 percent ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/aspirin-may-extend-survival-for-some-colorectal-cancer-patients-109048-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/chronic-constipation-may-boost-colorectal-cancer-risk-108964-1.htm People who suffer from chronic constipation are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, find researchers. Their study investigated the prevalence and incidence of colorectal cancer and benign neoplasms in 28,854 patients with chronic constipation (CC) and 86,562 controls without CC that were identified from a large retrospective U.S. claims database (January 1999-September 2011). Patients with at least two diagnoses of constipation were required to be 18 years or older ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/chronic-constipation-may-boost-colorectal-cancer-risk-108964-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/more-likely-to-present-with-emergency-colorectal-cancer-diagnosis-are-african-americans-economically-disadvantaged-populations-108816-1.htm According to data, 29 percent of patients with colorectal cancer in a nationally representative sample were diagnosed after an emergency, such as an obstruction or perforation of the bowel. The data was presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. In addition, African-Americans and those living in high-poverty areas were more likely to present with an emergency diagnosis. "Overall, there are high rates of ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/more-likely-to-present-with-emergency-colorectal-cancer-diagnosis-are-african-americans-economically-disadvantaged-populations-108816-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/potential-new-noninvasive-test-for-colorectal-cancer-108793-1.htm Data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research reveals that a new noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer. "This test measures different kinds of DNA changes, known as methylation and mutation, along with a measure of fecal blood. By combining these measures, we can look for the kinds of biological changes that are most frequently found in precancers and cancers in the colon," said Graham P....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/potential-new-noninvasive-test-for-colorectal-cancer-108793-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/strategy-for-improved-screening-for-type-of-hereditary-colorectal-cancer-identified-108620-1.htm Researchers have discovered a method for improved screening for Lynch syndrome - the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) caused by mutations in MMR genes. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. "Identification of patients with Lynch syndrome needs to be improved because, unless there is strong clinical suspicion, the majority of cases remain undetected, leading to the lack of implementation of highly effective preventive measures....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/strategy-for-improved-screening-for-type-of-hereditary-colorectal-cancer-identified-108620-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-colonoscopy-surveillance-guidelines-issued-by-gi-societies-108079-1.htm Those patients who have a clean colonoscopy even if they are at average risk of colorectal cancer do not need to repeat the test for 10 years. According to sup1/sup a consensus update issued by the U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, this and many other practical recommendations for cancer prevention were issued in "Guidelines for Colonoscopy Surveillance After Screening and Polypectomy. Colorectal cancer is preventable when precancerous polyps (growths) are found and removed before they turn into cancer....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-colonoscopy-surveillance-guidelines-issued-by-gi-societies-108079-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-gene-database-can-help-researchers-identify-direction-of-further-studies-107761-1.htm A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that researchers studying colorectal cancer can take advantage of the CRCgene database to accurately interpret the risk factors of the disease and provide further insight into the direction of additional research. Approximately 950,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year. The risk of developing the disease also increases with age, and as life expectancy rises, the incidence continues to grow. These ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-gene-database-can-help-researchers-identify-direction-of-further-studies-107761-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/detection-rates-for-precancerous-polyp-increased-by-split-dose-preparation-for-colonoscopy-107288-1.htm The system-wide implementation of a split-dose preparation as the primary choice for colonoscopy significantly improved both polyp detection rates and precancerous polyp detection rates, a new study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic Arizona showed. The study appears in the September issue of iGIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/i, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Colorectal cancer develops slowly, therefore screening for the disease is especially important....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/detection-rates-for-precancerous-polyp-increased-by-split-dose-preparation-for-colonoscopy-107288-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/narrow-band-imaging-with-colonoscopy-enables-distal-non-cancerous-polyps-to-be-left-in-place-106225-1.htm According to a new study, the use of narrow band imaging (NBI) during colonoscopy is sufficiently accurate to allow distal hyperplastic (non-cancerous) polyps to be left in place without removal and small, distal adenomas (pre-cancerous polyps) to be removed and discarded without pathologic assessment. These findings validate NBI criteria based on color, vessels and pit characteristics for predicting real-time colorectal polyp histology. The study appears in the August issue of iGIE: Gastrointestinal ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/narrow-band-imaging-with-colonoscopy-enables-distal-non-cancerous-polyps-to-be-left-in-place-106225-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/sanofis-colorectal-cancer-drug-receives-fda-approval-105095-1.htm Sanofi revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its metastatic colorectal cancer drug Zaltrap which has been developed in collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The company said that Zaltrap could be effective in colorectal cancer patients who have not responded to chemotherapy treatment. Large scale clinical trials showed that people taking Zaltrap along with FOLFIRI chemotherapy combination regimen lived for 13.5 months compared to 12 months for those who received only FOLFIRI....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/sanofis-colorectal-cancer-drug-receives-fda-approval-105095-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-incidence-and-death-significantly-reduced-by-colonoscopy-screening-104600-1.htm Swiss researchers have found colonoscopy with polypectomy significantly reduces colorectal cancer incidence and colorectal cancer-related death in the general population. A total of 12 colorectal cancer cases were identified in the screening group of 1,912 patients and 213 cases of colorectal cancer were found in the non-screened group of 20,774 patients. One of the 12 persons of the screened individuals with a colorectal cancer and 51 of the 213 persons of the non-screened individuals with ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-incidence-and-death-significantly-reduced-by-colonoscopy-screening-104600-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-natural-language-processing-tool-for-electronic-health-records-in-assessing-colonoscopy-quality-103213-1.htm Natural language processing programs can "read" dictated reports and provide information to allow measurement of colonoscopy quality in an inexpensive, automated and efficient manner says study. Observation of the quality variation in the study within a single academic hospital system reinforces the need for routine quality measurement. The study appears in the June issue of GIE: iGastrointestinal Endoscopy/i, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/use-of-natural-language-processing-tool-for-electronic-health-records-in-assessing-colonoscopy-quality-103213-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/equalling-standards-in-identifying-clinically-significant-polyps-is-virtual-colonoscopy-without-laxatives-102879-1.htm According to a study performed jointly at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, the University of California, San Francisco and Massachusetts General Hospital, computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, administered without laxatives is as accurate as conventional colonoscopy in detecting clinically significant, potentially cancerous polyps. "I think we have demonstrated that laxative-free CTC is a valid tool for detecting polyps that are clinically significant," ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/equalling-standards-in-identifying-clinically-significant-polyps-is-virtual-colonoscopy-without-laxatives-102879-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/upshot-of-therapy-for-people-with-colorectal-cancer-predicted-by-pet-102715-1.htm How molecular imaging biomarkers can be applied to estimate howan experimental radiochemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer will work revealed by study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting.Using already available imaging probes, scientists can assess the effectiveness before the course of treatment has ended. "The rate of complete pathological response of rectal cancer patients to anti-cancer therapy-as determined at surgery-was higher than reported in most ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/upshot-of-therapy-for-people-with-colorectal-cancer-predicted-by-pet-102715-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/flexible-sigmoidoscopy-decreases-incidence-of-colorectal-cancer-101896-1.htm Colorectal cancer, or bowel cancer, is the second main cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It generally occurs due to the uncontrolled growth of cells in rectum, appendix or colon. Common symptoms are bleeding, anemia, weight loss and change in bowel habits. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is used to diagnose colorectal cancer. It is also used for the detection of the underlying cause of symptoms like abdominal pain and discomfort, bleeding from rectum, etc. The procedure is done using a sigmoidoscope....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/flexible-sigmoidoscopy-decreases-incidence-of-colorectal-cancer-101896-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-risk-factors-probed-101743-1.htm Patient experiences with colorectal cancer screening has been assessed by new research being presented at Digestive Disease Week (Regd) (DDW). The research also questions current screening guidelines. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men. Studies found that patients prefer colonscopy over computed tomography colonography, despite the former's more invasive nature, and highlight the importance of a patient's experience and role in the process of colonoscopy....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-risk-factors-probed-101743-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/sigmoidoscopy-cuts-colorectal-cancer-rates-101598-1.htm Flexible sigmoidoscopy is effective in reducing the rates of new cases and deaths due to colorectal cancer, reveals research. In a study that spanned almost 20 years, researchers found that overall colorectal cancer mortality (deaths) was reduced by 26 percent and incidence (new cases) was reduced by 21 percent as a result of screening with sigmoidoscopy. These results appeared online, ahead of print, on May 21, 2012, in the iNew England Journal of Medicine/i, Digestive Disease Week/a, a scientific conference....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/sigmoidoscopy-cuts-colorectal-cancer-rates-101598-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-video-improves-patient-compliance-with-cancer-screening-101496-1.htm Watching an online instructional video may help patients to keep their appointments and arrive prepared for a scheduled colonoscopy than those who do not. The study, presented at the 2012 annual Digestive Diseases Week meeting in San Diego, CA, found that among patients age 50 to 65 - the primary target for colon cancer screening - those who watched the video were 40 percent less likely to cancel an appointment. That suggests many more cancers could be prevented or detected and treated early if more thorough instruction were given....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-video-improves-patient-compliance-with-cancer-screening-101496-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-could-help-predict-parkinsons-disease-101372-1.htm Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy can be used to predict Parkinson's disease, say scientists. Currently, Parkinson's disease afflicts almost 5 million people worldwide. It is projected that by 2030, Parkinson's disease will affect over 10 million individuals. A protein called alpha-synuclein is deposited in cells of the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease and is considered a pathologic hallmark of the disorder. These protein aggregates form Lewy bodies, a characteristic ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-could-help-predict-parkinsons-disease-101372-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-current-colorectal-cancer-screening-guidelines-based-on-studies-that-were-too-limited-101339-1.htm A team of authors have claimed that current guidelines of colorectal cancer screening for people who have first-degree relatives with precancerous colon polyps are not effective as the studies they are based on were either too limited or not properly designed and said that new studies should be conducted to properly identify the factors that affect the risk of the cancer. "We found that most studies that are cited for the risk for colorectal cancer when first-degree relatives -- parents, siblings ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-says-current-colorectal-cancer-screening-guidelines-based-on-studies-that-were-too-limited-101339-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/accuracy-of-laxative-free-ct-colonography-perhaps-identical-to-colonoscopy-in-detecting-high-risk-polyps-101324-1.htm CT-scan-based form of virtual colonoscopy requiring no laxative preparation emerges to be as effective as standard colonoscopy in spotting the intestinal polyps likeliest to turn cancerous. In the May 15 issue of iAnnals of Internal Medicine/i, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-based research team reports finding that the new technique, which uses computer-aided systems both to virtually cleanse and to analyze the images acquired, was able to identify more than 90 percent of the common polyps called adenomas that were 10 mm or larger....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/accuracy-of-laxative-free-ct-colonography-perhaps-identical-to-colonoscopy-in-detecting-high-risk-polyps-101324-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-clues-sifted-from-junk-by-geisel-researchers-101005-1.htm The switches that can turn on or off genes, related to colorectal cancer identified by two researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. The finding offers clues about the development of colorectal cancer and could-potentially-provide targets for new therapies. Jason Moore, Third Century Professor of genetics and the director of the Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, and Richard Cowper-Sal.lari, a graduate student in Moore's lab, were part of a team that included researchers ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-clues-sifted-from-junk-by-geisel-researchers-101005-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/adherence-to-colorectal-cancer-screening-recommendations-scrutinized-99998-1.htm Colonoscopy recommended to patients were less likely to complete colorectal cancer screening compared to patients for whom fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) was suggested or those patients who were given a choice between FOBT or colonoscopy, states a study published in the April 9 issue of IArchives of Internal Medicine, /Ia JAMA Network publication. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent condition that can be diagnosed through screening and treated during an asymptomatic phase to prevent ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/adherence-to-colorectal-cancer-screening-recommendations-scrutinized-99998-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-patients-to-overcome-drug-resistance-feasibility-found-by-researchers-99935-1.htm The drug cetuximab, which functions by retarding or stopping the growth of cancer cells, when combined with other treatments, has been shown to prolong survival in certain types of cancer, including metastatic colorectal cancers. Unfortunately, about 40 percent of colorectal cancer patients-specifically those who carry a mutated form of a gene called KRAS-do not respond to the drug. Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, however, have been working on a way to overcome this resistance ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colorectal-cancer-patients-to-overcome-drug-resistance-feasibility-found-by-researchers-99935-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/intestinal-stem-cells-may-hold-clues-to-colorectal-cancer-99552-1.htm A new population of intestinal stem cells that may hold clues to the origin of colorectal cancer. This new stem cell population, reported March 30 in the journal ICell/I, appears to be relatively quiescent (inactive) - in contrast to the recent discovery of intestinal stem cells that multiply rapidly - and is marked by a protein, Lrig1, that may act as a "brake" on cell growth and proliferation. The researchers have also developed a new and clinically relevant mouse model of colorectal ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/intestinal-stem-cells-may-hold-clues-to-colorectal-cancer-99552-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/pressure-to-improve-the-numbers-of-colonoscopy-screenings-may-adversely-impact-the-quality-98835-1.htm Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that 92 percent of more than 1,000 gastroenterologists responding to a survey believed that pressures to increase the volume of colonoscopies adversely impacted how they performed their procedures, which could potentially affect the quality of colon cancer screening. The findings, based on responses from members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), are published in the March 2012 issue of IGastrointestinal Endoscopy/I....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/pressure-to-improve-the-numbers-of-colonoscopy-screenings-may-adversely-impact-the-quality-98835-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-versus-fecal-immunochemical-testing-in-colorectal-cancer-98626-1.htm bThough fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is preferred by many for the screening of colorectal cancer, a higher number of precancerous and cancerous lesions are detected using colonoscopy, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine./b Screening for Colorectal cancers is done to detect two types of lesions: Cancerous lesions and polyps which might prove to be cancerous or later turn cancerous. The non-invasive tests for the detection ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/colonoscopy-versus-fecal-immunochemical-testing-in-colorectal-cancer-98626-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-sheds-light-on-innovative-efforts-to-reduce-colorectal-cancer-disparities-98597-1.htm IGIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy/I has published a special issue for March on colorectal cancer for the National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The issue includes a study describing innovative efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in the Alaska Native population, who experience twice the incidence and death rates from colorectal cancer as does the U.S. white population. As a result of ongoing efforts, statewide Alaska Native colorectal cancer screening rates increased ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-sheds-light-on-innovative-efforts-to-reduce-colorectal-cancer-disparities-98597-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-guidance-statement-for-colorectal-cancer-screening-98422-1.htm The American College of Physicians (ACP) issues new colorectal cancer screening guidance statement. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women in the United States. The guidance statement and a patient summary appear in the March 6 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, published by ACP. ACP developed this guidance statement to present information to physicians and patients to increase their understanding of the benefits and harms of colorectal cancer screening....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-guidance-statement-for-colorectal-cancer-screening-98422-1.htm