Early Colorectal Cancer Screening may Reduce Cancer-Specific Mortality: JAMA

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that early invitation to Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening could significantly reduce the cancer-specific mortality when compared to late or no invitation. This research spanning from January 2008 to December 2021 to evaluate the impact of routine CRC screening using fecal occult blood testing on cancer-specific mortality.

This study was conducted in the Stockholm-Gotland region of Sweden encompassed a total of 379,448 individuals born from 1938 to 1954 and analyzed data from December 2022 to June 2023.

The participants were categorized into groups based on their invitation to screening as early (2008-2012), late (2013-2015) or no invitation. The early invitation group which constituted 203,670 individuals was compared to the control group of 175,778 individuals who received late or no invitation.

The results demonstrated a significant decrease in CRC mortality among those who underwent early screening. The individuals in the early screening group expressed a reduced risk of CRC mortality by 14% when compared to the control group. Also, the study found a corresponding decrease in excess mortality which further emphasizes the positive impact of early CRC screening.

Despite challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of population-based CRC screening programs, this study provides compelling evidence that supports their efficacy in reducing cancer-specific mortality rates. The mean screening participation rate was 63.3% which indicates a significant uptake of screening within the studied population.

The outcomes underscore the importance of routine CRC screening with fecal occult blood testing as a crucial preventive measure against colorectal cancer. This suggest that the true association between screening and reduced mortality could be even higher, considering potential factors such as testing coexistence in the control group and delayed CRC diagnoses.

Reference:

Blom, J., Saraste, D., Törnberg, S., & Jonsson, H. (2024). Routine Fecal Occult Blood Screening and Colorectal Cancer Mortality in Sweden. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 2, p. e240516). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0516