Latest news with #TrevorGraham
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ICR scientists develop algorithm that predicts bowel cancer risk in IBD patients
Scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK, have developed an algorithm that can predict whether individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will develop bowel cancer within five years with an accuracy of more than 90%. Funded by Cancer Research UK and the Barts Charity, this breakthrough offers a potential new approach to bowel cancer testing in hospitals. The algorithm calculates the risk of future bowel cancer based on the specific pattern of DNA alterations in the pre-cancerous cells. The test would involve genomic sequencing of pre-cancerous growth samples obtained during endoscopy. This sequencing data will be fed into the algorithm, which also considers factors such as growth size, ease of biopsy removal, and overall gut inflammation to calculate cancer risk. In a study involving 122 IBD subjects, researchers observed that half of them developed bowel cancer five years after their pre-cancerous cell samples were taken. DNA scanning of these samples revealed that those who developed cancer had multiple DNA copy losses. This finding was pivotal in creating the risk assessment algorithm. Looking ahead, scientists aim to evolve the test from analysing gut growth samples to a less invasive method such as blood tests. With types that include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, IBD can cause pre-cancerous cells if the bowel lining remains inflamed and untreated. ICR London Centre for Evolution and Cancer director and genomics and evolution professor Trevor Graham said: 'Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are common and we need better tools to identify the patients at highest risk of bowel cancer. Our test and algorithm give people with IBD, and the doctors who care for them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision about how to manage their cancer risk. 'We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest.' In October 2024, ICR scientists launched a study to assess PRODICT, a saliva-based test for faster prostate cancer diagnosis. "ICR scientists develop algorithm that predicts bowel cancer risk in IBD patients" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Groundbreaking new test 90% accurate in finding patients at high risk of bowel cancer
Scientists believe a groundbreaking new test may predict patients at high risk of developing bowel cancer with 90 per cent accuracy. Research, published in the journal Gut on Thursday, could lead to blood testing for the thousands of Britons with irritable bowel diseases (IBD) ulcerative colitis or Crohn's who were most at risk of developing bowel cancer, and help avoid some invasive procedures. There are about 500,000 people living in the UK with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's, according to the charity Crohn's and Colitis UK, and bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK according to Cancer Research UK. Director of the centre for evolution and cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, Professor Trevor Graham, said most people living with those diseases would not develop bowel cancer as a result, but the options for those showing signs of pre-cancer were tough. 'Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn't become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don't get cancer in the future. Neither of these options are particularly pleasant,' he said. 'Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are common and we need better tools to identify the patients at highest risk of bowel cancer.' Scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research worked with St Mark's Hospital to get samples of pre-cancerous cells from 122 patients with IBD. Within five years, about half had developed bowel cancer, and the researchers worked out those whose cancerous cells had lost or gained multiple copies of their DNA were far more likely to develop bowel cancer. The scientists then created an algorithm to calculate the risk of future bowel cancer based on the pattern made by the altered DNA. Prof Graham said: 'Our test and algorithm give people with IBD, and the doctors who care for them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision about how to manage their cancer risk. We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest.' Craig Foster lost his wife Fariba to bowel cancer in February 2024. She had lived with ulcerative colitis, and had three-quarters of her bowel removed when she was 18. Mr Foster said the research, which was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Barts Charity, had the potential to save others in Fariba's position. 'Cancer takes no prisoners and it doesn't matter who you are or from what walk of life, everyone is affected in some way. Fariba died just six months after she was diagnosed. Even though it was a short time, it was the worst time,' he said. 'Research like this will save lives. It gives me comfort to know that there are scientists working right now so that no-one has to experience the same situation Fariba was in.' Study co-lead Professor Ailsa Hart said the hope was this finding would reduce the need for invasive testing for at-risk patients. "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer. These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services,' she said. 'If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated. Finding smarter ways to assess these colons is much needed.' Prof Hart, who also leads the inflammatory bowel disease research unit at St Mark's the National Bowel Hospital, said this work could be 'readily translated' into practice and help patients with IBD and early cancer signs make decisions about surgery. Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, Dr Iain Foulkes, said bowel cancer treatment is 'far more likely' to be effective if the disease is caught early. 'With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money. We can also give those at lower risk peace of mind and remove the fear of bowel cancer in the future,' he said.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New bowel cancer test shows greater than 90% accuracy in high-risk patients
A new method for detecting bowel cancer is more than 90% accurate at predicting which higher risk people will develop the disease, research has shown. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, are known to have an increased chance of bowel cancer, but not all will develop it. Now, a study, funded by Cancer Research UK, has shown more than 90% accuracy in predicting bowel cancer risk in the next five years in a high-risk group of people with IBD. This could lead to a blood test which will inform doctors which IBD patients are most at risk of bowel cancer. We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest Professor Trevor Graham, ICR Professor Trevor Graham, from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), which co-led the research, said: 'Most people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease won't develop bowel cancer. 'But for those that have these conditions and are showing signs of pre-cancer in their colon, there are some tough decisions to make. 'Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn't become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don't get cancer in the future. Neither of these options are particularly pleasant. 'Our test and algorithm give people with IBD, and the doctors who care for them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision about how to manage their cancer risk. 'We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest.' Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer Professor Ailsa Hart IBD can irritate the lining of the bowel and can cause abnormal pre-cancerous cells to form if left untreated. To identify people's cancer risk, scientists at the ICR, working with doctors at St Mark's, the UK's specialist bowel hospital, found that people with IBD whose pre-cancerous cells had lost multiple copies of their DNA were far more likely to go on to develop bowel cancer. The scientists also created an algorithm that calculates the risk of future bowel cancer, based on the exact pattern of the DNA which is altered in the pre-cancerous cells. Taken together, scientists hope the findings could spare people who are at much lower risk from the stress of needing regular colonoscopies or undergoing surgery to remove the colon. Professor Ailsa Hart, co-lead of the study, from St Mark's, said: ' Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer. Getting a full readout of tumour DNA means we can see a much bigger picture of how someone's cancer started and how it is likely to change over time Dr Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UK 'These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services. 'If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated. Finding smarter ways to assess these colons is much needed. 'Here we describe a potential biomarker, which can be readily translated into clinical practice, to improve assessment of patients with IBD and early signs of cancer to help with the decision for surgery.' Executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, Dr Iain Foulkes, said: 'Genome sequencing is now far cheaper and more widespread than ever before, and it's changing how we look at cancer. 'Getting a full readout of tumour DNA means we can see a much bigger picture of how someone's cancer started and how it is likely to change over time. 'With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money. 'We can also give those at lower risk peace of mind and remove the fear of bowel cancer in the future.' In the study, published in the journal Gut, samples of pre-cancerous cells were taken from 122 patients with IBD. About half of the patients went on to develop bowel cancer within five years, whilst the other half remained cancer-free. All of the samples had their full DNA scanned to look for changes in the structure and number of copies in the DNA. The scientists found that patients with IBD who developed bowel cancer had lost multiple copies of their DNA. About 500,000 people in the UK are thought to have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of Crohn's and Colitis UK, said the test was 'hugely exciting', adding: 'This is really positive news for people with Crohn's and Colitis; just as with inflammatory bowel disease, we know the earlier you find out about cancer, the better.'
