A recent prospective cross-sectional study in Thailand demonstrates that multitarget stool DNA testing is highly sensitive and specific for detecting colorectal cancer (CRC) among Thai individuals. Researchers believe that this testing method could serve as a viable non-invasive alternative to colonoscopy, especially in settings where colonoscopy is less accessible or less accepted by patients. This study was conducted by BGI Genomics in 2023, in collaboration with Professor Varut Lohsiriwat's team from the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand.
The research team included Professor Varut Lohsiriwat, Dr. Aitsariya Mongkhonsupphawan (M.D, Ph.
D, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University), and Pornraksa Ovartchaiyapong (Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University). The study was published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (APJCP) in October 2024. Researchers focused on evaluating the diagnostic performance of the multitarget stool DNA testing for detecting CRC and advanced adenoma, using colonoscopy as the reference standard.
The study included both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients who underwent stool DNA testing followed by colonoscopy. The multitarget stool DNA test targeted methylation statuses of SDC2, ADHFE1 , and PPP2R5C genes. Sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic parameters were analyzed.
In the study, data from 274 patients (mean age 62 years, with a predominantly female c.
