Long-term colorectal-cancer incidence and mortality after lower endoscopy

Relative Efficacies of Interventions to Improve the Quality of Screening-Related Colonoscopy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Significant variability exists in colonoscopy quality indicators, including adenoma detection rate (ADR). We synthesized evidence from randomized trials in a network meta-analysis on interventions to improve colonoscopy quality.

METHODS

We included trials from database inceptions to September 25, 2023, of patients undergoing screening-related colonoscopy and presented efficacies of interventions within domains (periprocedural parameters, endoscopist-directed interventions, intraprocedural techniques, endoscopic technologies, distal attachment devices, and additive substances) compared to standard colonoscopy. The primary outcome was ADR. We used a Bayesian random-effects model using Markov-chain Monte Carlo simulation, with 10,000 burn-ins and 100,000 iterations. We calculated odds ratios with 95% credible intervals and present surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curves.

RESULTS

We included 124 trials evaluating 37 interventions for the primary outcome. Nine interventions resulted in statistically significant improvements in ADR compared to standard colonoscopy (9-minute withdrawal time, dual observation, water exchange, i-SCAN [Pentax Ltd], linked color imaging, computer-aided detection, Endocuff [Olympus Corp], Endocuff Vision [Olympus Corp], and oral methylene blue). Dual observation (SUCRA, 0.84) and water exchange (SUCRA, 0.78) ranked highest among intraprocedural techniques; i-SCAN (SUCRA, 0.95), linked color imaging (SUCRA, 0.85), and computer-aided detection (SUCRA, 0.78) among endoscopic technologies; WingCap (A&A Medical Supply LLC) (SUCRA, 0.87) and Endocuff (SUCRA, 0.85) among distal attachment devices and oral methylene blue (SUCRA, 0.94) among additive substances. No interventions improved detection of advanced adenomas, and only narrow-band imaging improved detection of serrated lesions (odds ratio, 2.94; 95% credible interval, 1.46-6.25).

CONCLUSIONS

Several interventions are effective in improving adenoma detection and overall colonoscopy quality, many of which are cost-free. These results can inform endoscopists, unit managers, and endoscopy societies on relative efficacies.

Clinicopathological, molecular, and prognostic features of colorectal carcinomas with KRAS c.34G>T (p.G12C) mutation

Evidence indicates that combinations of anti-EGFR antibodies and KRAS p.G12C (c.34G>T) inhibitors can be an effective treatment strategy for advanced colorectal cancer. We hypothesized that KRAS c.34G>T (p.G12C)-mutated colorectal carcinoma might be a distinct tumor subtype. We utilized a prospective cohort incident tumor biobank (including 1347 colorectal carcinomas) and detected KRAS c.34G>T (p.G12C) mutation in 43 cases (3.2%) and other KRAS mutations (in codon 12, 13, 61, or 146) in 467 cases (35%). The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-low prevalence was similarly higher in KRAS c.34G>T mutants (52%) and other KRAS mutants (49%) than in KRAS-wild-type tumors (31%). KRAS c.34G>T mutants showed higher CIMP-high prevalence (14%) and lower CIMP-negative prevalence (33%) compared with other KRAS mutants (6% and 45%, respectively; p = 0.0036). Similar to other KRAS mutants, KRAS c.34G>T-mutated tumors were associated with cecal location, non-microsatellite instability (MSI)-high status, BRAF wild type, and PIK3CA mutation when compared with KRAS-wild-type tumors. Compared with BRAF-mutated tumors, KRAS c.34G>T mutants showed more frequent LINE-1 hypomethylation, a biomarker for early-onset colorectal carcinoma. KRAS c.34G>T mutants were not associated with other features, including the tumor tissue abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. animalis), pks+ Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, or (enterotoxigenic) Bacteroides fragilis. Among 1122 BRAF-wild-type colorectal carcinomas, compared with KRAS-wild-type tumors, multivariable-adjusted colorectal cancer-specific mortality hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.82 (1.05-3.17) in KRAS c.34G>T (p.G12C)-mutated tumors (p = 0.035) and 1.57 (1.22-2.02) in other KRAS-mutated tumors (p = 0.0004). Our study provides novel evidence for clinical and tumor characteristics of KRAS c.34G>T (p.G12C)-mutated colorectal carcinoma.

The Use of Clips to Prevent Post-Polypectomy Bleeding: A Clinical Review

GOALS

The goal of this clinical review is to provide an overview of the current literature regarding the utility of prophylactic clips in reducing postpolypectomy bleeding and to provide an expert statement regarding their appropriateness in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND

Colonoscopy enables the identification and removal of premalignant and malignant lesions through polypectomy, yet complications including postpolypectomy bleeding (PPB) can arise. While various studies have explored applying clips prophylactically to prevent PPB, their effectiveness remains uncertain.

STUDY

A literature search conducted in PubMed and Embase identified 671 publications discussing clip use postpolypectomy; 67 were found to be relevant after screening, reporting outcomes related to PPB. Data related to clip utilization, polyp characteristics, and adverse events were extracted and discussed.

RESULTS

The current literature suggests that prophylactic clipping is most beneficial for nonpedunculated polyps ≥20 mm, especially those in the proximal colon. The utility of clipping smaller polyps and those in the distal colon remains less clear. Antithrombotic medication usage, particularly anticoagulants, has been linked to an increased risk of bleeding, prompting consideration for clip placement in this patient subgroup. While cost-effectiveness analyses may indicate potential savings, the decision to clip should be tailored to individual patient factors and polyp characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Current research suggests that the application of prophylactic clips can be particularly beneficial in preventing delayed bleeding after removal of large nonpedunculated polyps, especially for those in the proximal colon and in patients on antithrombotic medications. In addition, for large pedunculated polyps prophylactic clipping is most effective at controlling immediate bleeding.

ENDOANGEL improves detection of missed colorectal adenomas in second colonoscopy: A retrospective study

The ENDOANGEL (EN) computer-assisted detection technique has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing the detection rate of colorectal adenomas during colonoscopies. However, its efficacy in identifying missed adenomas during subsequent colonoscopies remains unclear. Thus, we herein aimed to compare the adenoma miss rate (AMR) between EN-assisted and standard colonoscopies. Data from patients who underwent a second colonoscopy (EN-assisted or standard) within 6 months between September 2022 and May 2023 were analyzed. The EN-assisted group exhibited a significantly higher AMR (24.3% vs 11.9%, P = .005) than the standard group. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable analysis revealed that the EN-assisted group had a better ability to detect missed adenomas than the standard group (odds ratio = 2.89; 95% confidence interval = 1.14-7.80, P = .029). These findings suggest that EN-assisted colonoscopy represents a valuable advancement in improving AMR compared with standard colonoscopy. The integration of EN-assisted colonoscopy into routine clinical practice may offer significant benefits to patients requiring hospital resection of lesions following adenoma detection during their first colonoscopy.

Strategic use of resources to enhance colorectal cancer screening for patients with diabetes (SURE: CRC4D) in federally qualified health centers: a protocol for hybrid type ii effectiveness-implementation trial

BACKGROUND

Persons with diabetes have 27% elevated risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) and are disproportionately from priority health disparities populations. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) struggle to implement CRC screening programs for average risk patients. Strategies to effectively prioritize and optimize CRC screening for patients with diabetes in the primary care safety-net are needed.

METHODS

Guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment Framework, we conducted a stakeholder-engaged process to identify multi-level change objectives for implementing optimized CRC screening for patients with diabetes in FQHCs. To identify change objectives, an implementation planning group of stakeholders from FQHCs, safety-net screening programs, and policy implementers were assembled and met over a 7-month period. Depth interviews (n = 18-20) with key implementation actors were conducted to identify and refine the materials, methods and strategies needed to support an implementation plan across different FQHC contexts. The planning group endorsed the following multi-component implementation strategies: identifying clinic champions, development/distribution of patient educational materials, developing and implementing quality monitoring systems, and convening clinical meetings. To support clinic champions during the initial implementation phase, two learning collaboratives and bi-weekly virtual facilitation will be provided. In single group, hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial, we will implement and evaluate these strategies in a in six safety net clinics (n = 30 patients with diabetes per site). The primary clinical outcomes are: (1) clinic-level colonoscopy uptake and (2) overall CRC screening rates for patients with diabetes assessed at baseline and 12-months post-implementation. Implementation outcomes include provider and staff fidelity to the implementation plan, patient acceptability, and feasibility will be assessed at baseline and 12-months post-implementation.

DISCUSSION

Study findings are poised to inform development of evidence-based implementation strategies to be tested for scalability and sustainability in a future hybrid 2 effectiveness-implementation clinical trial. The research protocol can be adapted as a model to investigate the development of targeted cancer prevention strategies in additional chronically ill priority populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05785780) on March 27, 2023 (last updated October 21, 2023).

Duration of risk reduction in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality after a complete colonoscopy in Ontario, Canada: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer guidelines recommend screening colonoscopy every 10 years after a negative procedure. If risk reduction extends past 10 years, the recommended interval could be extended, reducing the burden on the individual and health-care system. We aimed to estimate the duration that patients remain at reduced risk of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality after a complete colonoscopy.

METHODS

We did a population-based cohort study of individuals aged 50-65 years between Jan 1, 1994, to Dec 31, 2017. We excluded individuals with previous exposure to colonoscopy or colorectal surgery, those previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or a history of hereditary or other bowel disorders. We followed up participants until Dec 31, 2018, and identified all colonoscopies performed in this time period. We used a 9-level time-varying measure of exposure, capturing time since last complete colonoscopy (no complete colonoscopy, ≤5 years, >5-10 years, >10-15 years, and >15 years) and whether an intervention was performed (biopsy or polypectomy). A Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, residential income quintile, and immigration status was used to estimate the association between exposure to a complete colonoscopy and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality.

FINDINGS

5 298 033 individuals (2 609 060 [49·2%] female and 2 688 973 [50·8%] male; no data on ethnicity were available) were included in the cohort, with a median follow-up of 12·56 years (IQR 6·26-20·13). 90 532 (1·7%) individuals were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 44 088 (0·8%) died from colorectal cancer. Compared with those who did not have a colonoscopy, the risk of colorectal cancer in those who had a complete negative colonoscopy was reduced at all timepoints, including when the procedure occurred more than 15 years earlier (hazard ratio [HR] 0·62 [95% CI 0·51-0·77] for female individuals and 0·57 [0·46-0·70] for male individuals. A similar finding was observed for colorectal cancer mortality, with lower risk at all timepoints, including when the procedure occurred more than 15 years earlier (HR 0·64 [95% CI 0·49-0·83] for female participants and 0·65 [0·50-0·83] for male participants). Those who had a colonoscopy with intervention had a significantly lower colorectal cancer incidence than those who did not undergo colonoscopy if the procedure occurred within 10 years for females (HR 0·70 [95% CI 0·63-0·77]) and up to 15 years for males (0·62 [(0·53-0·72]).

INTERPRETATION

Compared with those who do not receive colonoscopy, individuals who have a negative colonoscopy result remain at lower risk for colorectal cancer incidence and mortality more than 15 years after the procedure. The current recommendation of repeat screening at 10 years in these individuals should be reassessed.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Longer Interval Between First Colonoscopy With Negative Findings for Colorectal Cancer and Repeat Colonoscopy

Importance

For individuals without a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC), colonoscopy screening every 10 years is recommended to reduce CRC incidence and mortality. However, debate exists about whether and for how long this 10-year interval could be safely expanded.

Objective

To assess how many years after a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC a second colonoscopy can be performed.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study leveraged Swedish nationwide register-based data to examine CRC diagnoses and CRC-specific mortality among individuals without a family history of CRC. The exposed group included individuals who had a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC at age 45 to 69 years between 1990 and 2016. The control group included individuals matched by sex, birth year, and baseline age (ie, the age of their matched exposed individual when the exposed individual's first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC was performed). Individuals in the control group either did not have a colonoscopy during the follow-up or underwent colonoscopy that resulted in a CRC diagnosis. Up to 18 controls were matched with each exposed individual. Individuals were followed up from 1990 to 2018, and data were analyzed from November 2022 to November 2023.

Exposure

A first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC, defined as a first colonoscopy without a diagnosis of colorectal polyp, adenoma, carcinoma in situ, or CRC before or within 6 months after screening.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcomes were CRC diagnosis and CRC-specific death. The 10-year standardized incidence ratio and standardized mortality ratio were calculated to compare risks of CRC and CRC-specific death in the exposed and control groups based on different follow-up screening intervals.

Results

The sample included 110 074 individuals (65 147 females [59.2%]) in the exposed group and 1 981 332 (1 172 646 females [59.2%]) in the control group. The median (IQR) age for individuals in both groups was 59 (52-64) years. During up to 29 years of follow-up of individuals with a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC, 484 incident CRCs and 112 CRC-specific deaths occurred. After a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC, the risks of CRC and CRC-specific death in the exposed group were significantly lower than those in their matched controls for 15 years. At 15 years after a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC, the 10-year standardized incidence ratio was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54-0.94) and the 10-year standardized mortality ratio was 0.55 (95% CI, 0.29-0.94). In other words, the 10-year cumulative risk of CRC in year 15 in the exposed group was 72% that of the 10-year cumulative risk of CRC in the control group. Extending the colonoscopy screening interval from 10 to 15 years in individuals with a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC could miss the early detection of only 2 CRC cases and the prevention of 1 CRC-specific death per 1000 individuals, while potentially avoiding 1000 colonoscopies.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study found that for the population without a family history of CRC, the 10-year interval between colonoscopy screenings for individuals with a first colonoscopy with findings negative for CRC could potentially be extended to 15 years. A longer interval between colonoscopy screenings could be beneficial in avoiding unnecessary invasive examinations.

Artificial Intelligence-assisted colonoscopy and colorectal cancer screening: Where are we going?

Colorectal cancer is a significant global health concern, necessitating effective screening strategies to reduce its incidence and mortality rates. Colonoscopy plays a crucial role in the detection and removal of colorectal neoplastic precursors. However, there are limitations and variations in the performance of endoscopists, leading to missed lesions and suboptimal outcomes. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in endoscopy offers promising opportunities to improve the quality and efficacy of screening colonoscopies. In particular, AI applications, including computer-aided detection (CADe) and computer-aided characterization (CADx), have demonstrated the potential to enhance adenoma detection and optical diagnosis accuracy. Additionally, AI-assisted quality control systems aim to standardize the endoscopic examination process. This narrative review provides an overview of AI principles and discusses the current knowledge on AI-assisted endoscopy in the context of screening colonoscopies. It highlights the significant role of AI in improving lesion detection, characterization, and quality assurance during colonoscopy. However, further well-designed studies are needed to validate the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of AI-assisted colonoscopy before its widespread implementation.

Risk of advanced neoplasia after removal of colorectal adenomas with high-grade dysplasia

BACKGROUND

Many studies reported the presence of adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) at index colonoscopy increased the incidence of advanced neoplasia (AN) and colorectal cancer (CRC) following. However, the conclusion remains obscure due to lack of studies on the specific population of adenomas with HGD. This study aimed to assess the long-term risk of AN and CRC after removal of adenomas with HGD.

METHODS

A total of 814 patients who underwent adenomas with HGD removal between 2010 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The outcomes were the incidences of AN and CRC during surveillance colonoscopy. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to identify risk factors associated with AN and CRC.

RESULTS

During more than 2000 person-years of follow-up, we found that AN and CRC incidence densities were 44.3 and 4.4 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The 10-year cumulative incidence of AN and CRC were 39.1% and 5.5%, respectively. In the multivariate model, synchronous low-risk polyps (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.10-2.93) and synchronous high-risk polyps (HR 3.99, 95% CI 2.37-6.72) were risk factors for AN, whereas participation in surveillance colonoscopy visits (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.88 for 1 visit; HR 0.10, 95% CI 0.06-0.19 for ≥ 2 visits) were associated with decreased AN incidence. Additionally, elevated baseline carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (HR 10.19, 95% CI 1.77-58.59) was a risk factor for CRC, while participation in ≥ 2 surveillance colonoscopy visits (HR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.56) were associated with decreased CRC incidence. Interestingly, for 11 patients who developed CRC after removal of adenomas with HGD, immunohistochemistry revealed that 8 cases (73%) were deficient mismatch repair CRCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who have undergone adenoma with HGD removal are at higher risk of developing AN and CRC, while surveillance colonoscopy can reduce the risk. Patients with synchronous polyps, or with elevated baseline CEA level are considered high-risk populations and require more frequent surveillance.

Linked color imaging improves colorectal lesion detection especially for low performance endoscopists: An international trial in Asia

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Linked color imaging (LCI) is an image-enhanced endoscopy technique that accentuates the color difference between red and white, potentially improving the adenoma detection rate (ADR). However, it remains unclear whether LCI performance in detecting colorectal lesions differs based on endoscopists' experience levels. We aimed to evaluate the differences in LCI efficacy based on the experience levels of endoscopists by conducting an exploratory analysis.

METHODS

In this post hoc analysis of an international randomized controlled trial comparing the detection of adenoma and other lesions using colonoscopy with LCI and high-definition white light imaging (WLI), we included patients from 11 institutions across four countries/regions: Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and Singapore. We retrospectively reviewed differences in the lesion detection of LCI according to endoscopists' colonoscopy history or ADR.

RESULTS

We included 1692 and 1138 patients who underwent colonoscopies performed by 54 experts (experience of ≥ 5000 colonoscopies) and by 43 non-experts (experience of < 5000 colonoscopies), respectively. Both expert and non-expert groups showed a significant improvement in ADR with LCI compared to WLI (expert, 61.7% vs 46.4%; P < 0.001; non-expert, 56.6% vs 46.4%; P < 0.001). LCI had no effect on sessile serrated lesion detection rate in non-experts (3.1% vs 2.5%; P = 0.518). LCI significantly improved detection rates in endoscopists with relatively low detection performance, defined as an ADR < 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory study analyzed data from a previous trial and revealed that LCI is useful for both experts and non-experts and is even more beneficial for endoscopists with relatively low detection performance using WLI.

Emerging and under-recognised patterns of colorectal carcinoma morphologies: a comprehensive review

While the overwhelming majority of colorectal carcinomas (CRC) are diagnosed as adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified, there are numerous under-recognised morphologic patterns of CRC. These patterns are recognised by the WHO, appear in reporting manuals for the American Joint Committee of Cancer, and/or are listed on synoptic reports, while many other variants have either fallen out of favour or are emerging as future bona fide patterns. Herein, we discuss 13 variants: serrated adenocarcinoma, micropapillary adenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, adenoma-like adenocarcinoma, lymphoglandular complex-like CRC, carcinoma with sarcomatoid components, cribriform-comedo-type adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and low-grade tubuloglandular adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this review is to scrutinise these variants by assessing their clinical characteristics, morphologic cues, as well as pitfalls, and address their prognostic significance. Our analysis aims to bring clarity and updated understanding to these variants, offering valuable insights for pathologists. This contributes to more nuanced CRC diagnosis and treatment strategies, highlighting the importance of recognising a broad spectrum of morphologic patterns in CRC.

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer outcomes and access to care: a multi-cohort analysis

Introduction

Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) Americans have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and worse survival than non-Hispanic white (NHW) Americans, but the relative contributions of biological versus access to care remain poorly characterized. This study used two nationwide cohorts in different healthcare contexts to study health system effects on this disparity.

Methods

We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry as well as the United States Veterans Health Administration (VA) to identify adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2010 and 2020 who identified as non-Hispanic Black (NHB) or non-Hispanic white (NHW). Stratified survival analyses were performed using a primary endpoint of overall survival, and sensitivity analyses were performed using cancer-specific survival.

Results

We identified 263,893 CRC patients in the SEER registry (36,662 (14%) NHB; 226,271 (86%) NHW) and 24,375 VA patients (4,860 (20%) NHB; 19,515 (80%) NHW). In the SEER registry, NHB patients had worse OS than NHW patients: median OS of 57 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 55-58) versus 72 months (95% CI 71-73) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.14, 95% CI 1.12-1.15, p = 0.001). In contrast, VA NHB median OS was 65 months (95% CI 62-69) versus NHW 69 months (95% CI 97-71) (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.98-1.07, p = 0.375). There was significant interaction in the SEER registry between race and Medicare age eligibility (p < 0.001); NHB race had more effect in patients <65 years old (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.39-1.49, p < 0.001) than in those ≥65 (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.15, p < 0.001). In the VA, age stratification was not significant (p = 0.21).

Discussion

Racial disparities in CRC survival in the general US population are significantly attenuated in Medicare-aged patients. This pattern is not present in the VA, suggesting that access to care may be an important component of racial disparities in this disease.

Developing an optimal stratification model for colorectal cancer screening and reducing racial disparities in multi-center population-based studies

BACKGROUND

Early detection of colorectal neoplasms can reduce the colorectal cancer (CRC) burden by timely intervention for high-risk individuals. However, effective risk prediction models are lacking for personalized CRC early screening in East Asian (EAS) population. We aimed to develop, validate, and optimize a comprehensive risk prediction model across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence in EAS population.

METHODS

To develop precision risk-stratification and intervention strategies, we developed three trans-ancestry PRSs targeting colorectal neoplasms: (1) using 148 previously identified CRC risk loci (PRS148); (2) SNPs selection from large-scale meta-analysis data by clumping and thresholding (PRS183); (3) PRS-CSx, a Bayesian approach for genome-wide risk prediction (PRSGenomewide). Then, the performance of each PRS was assessed and validated in two independent cross-sectional screening sets, including 4600 patients with advanced colorectal neoplasm, 4495 patients with non-advanced adenoma, and 21,199 normal individuals from the ZJCRC (Zhejiang colorectal cancer set; EAS) and PLCO (the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial; European, EUR) studies. The optimal PRS was further incorporated with lifestyle factors to stratify individual risk and ultimately tested in the PLCO and UK Biobank prospective cohorts, totaling 350,013 participants.

RESULTS

Three trans-ancestry PRSs achieved moderately improved predictive performance in EAS compared to EUR populations. Remarkably, the PRSs effectively facilitated a thorough risk assessment across all stages of the dynamic adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Among these models, PRS183 demonstrated the optimal discriminatory ability in both EAS and EUR validation datasets, particularly for individuals at risk of colorectal neoplasms. Using two large-scale and independent prospective cohorts, we further confirmed a significant dose-response effect of PRS183 on incident colorectal neoplasms. Incorporating PRS183 with lifestyle factors into a comprehensive strategy improves risk stratification and discriminatory accuracy compared to using PRS or lifestyle factors separately. This comprehensive risk-stratified model shows potential in addressing missed diagnoses in screening tests (best NPV = 0.93), while moderately reducing unnecessary screening (best PPV = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Our comprehensive risk-stratified model in population-based CRC screening trials represents a promising advancement in personalized risk assessment, facilitating tailored CRC screening in the EAS population. This approach enhances the transferability of PRSs across ancestries and thereby helps address health disparity.

Colorectal adenoma detection rate using texture and color enhancement imaging versus white light imaging with chromoendoscopy: a propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Few studies have evaluated the adenoma detection rate (ADR) of colonoscopy with texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI), a novel image-enhancing technology. This study compares the detection of colorectal polyps using TXI to that using white light imaging (WLI).

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study used propensity-matched scoring based on the patients' baseline characteristics (age, sex, indication, bowel preparation, endoscopist, colonoscope type, and withdrawal time) to compare the results of patients who underwent chromoendoscopy using WLI or TXI at the Toyoshima Endoscopy Clinic. The differences in polyp detection rates and the mean number of detected polyps per colonoscopy were determined between the TXI and WLI groups.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, 1970 patients were enrolled into each imaging modality group. The mean patient age was 57.2 ± 12.5 years, and 44.5% of the cohort were men. The ADR was higher in the TXI group than in the WLI group (55.0% vs 49.4%, odds ratio: 1.25). High-risk ADR were more common in the TXI group than in the WLI group (17.6% vs 12.8%; OR: 1.45). The mean number of adenomas per colonoscopy (APC) was higher in the TXI group than in the WLI group (1.187 vs 0.943, OR: 1.12). APC with a flat morphology (1.093 vs 0.848, OR: 1.14) and APC of <6 mm (0.992 vs 0.757, OR: 1.16) were higher in the TXI group than in the WLI group.

CONCLUSION

Compared to WLI, TXI improved the ADR in patients who underwent chromoendoscopy based on actual clinical data.

Risk factors for advanced colorectal neoplasia and colorectal cancer detected at surveillance: a nationwide study in the modern era

AIM

Recommendations for surveillance after colonoscopy are based on risk factors for metachronous advanced colorectal neoplasia (AN) and colorectal cancer (CRC). The value of these risk factors remains unclear in populations enriched by individuals with a positive faecal immunochemical test and were investigated in a modern setting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This population-based cohort study included all individuals in the Netherlands of ≥55 years old with a first adenoma diagnosis in 2015. A total of 22,471 patients were included. Data were retrieved from the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank (Palga). Primary outcomes were metachronous AN and CRC. Patient and polyp characteristics were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression analyses. During follow-up, 2416 (10.8%) patients were diagnosed with AN, of which 557 (2.5% from the total population) were CRC. Adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (hazard ratio [HR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-1.83), villous histology (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.59-2.28), size ≥10 mm (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.23), proximal location (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.23), two or more adenomas (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.16-1.41), and serrated polyps ≥10 mm (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.42-1.97) were independent risk factors for metachronous AN. In contrast, only adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.92-3.24) were an independent risk factor for metachronous CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for metachronous AN and CRC were identified for populations with access to a faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based screening programme. If only risk factors for metachronous CRC are considered, a reduction in criteria for surveillance seems reasonable.

The Deep Learning Framework iCanTCR Enables Early Cancer Detection Using the T-cell Receptor Repertoire in Peripheral Blood

T cells recognize tumor antigens and initiate an anticancer immune response in the very early stages of tumor development, and the antigen specificity of T cells is determined by the T-cell receptor (TCR). Therefore, monitoring changes in the TCR repertoire in peripheral blood may offer a strategy to detect various cancers at a relatively early stage. Here, we developed the deep learning framework iCanTCR to identify patients with cancer based on the TCR repertoire. The iCanTCR framework uses TCRβ sequences from an individual as an input and outputs the predicted cancer probability. The model was trained on over 2,000 publicly available TCR repertoires from 11 types of cancer and healthy controls. Analysis of several additional publicly available datasets validated the ability of iCanTCR to distinguish patients with cancer from noncancer individuals and demonstrated the capability of iCanTCR for the accurate classification of multiple cancers. Importantly, iCanTCR precisely identified individuals with early-stage cancer with an AUC of 86%. Altogether, this work provides a liquid biopsy approach to capture immune signals from peripheral blood for noninvasive cancer diagnosis.

SIGNIFICANCE

Development of a deep learning-based method for multicancer detection using the TCR repertoire in the peripheral blood establishes the potential of evaluating circulating immune signals for noninvasive early cancer detection.

Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Colorectal cancer screening allows for prevention and early detection of precancerous and cancerous lesions, and screening has been shown to be effective in preventing colorectal cancer deaths. Screening recommendations vary by patient risk profile. A variety of screening modalities exist.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Individuals With a Substance Use Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

There is limited evidence on colorectal cancer screening among individuals with a substance use disorder. This study aims to investigate the association between personal history of a substance use disorder and colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening completion rates.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed 176,300 patients, of whom 171,973 had no substance use disorder and 4,327 had a substance use disorder diagnosis from electronic health record data (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2022) in a Midwestern healthcare system. Baseline was January 1, 2013, and a 10-year follow-up period ran through December 31, 2022. The outcome was receipt of colonoscopy in the 10-year follow-up period. Patients were aged 50-65 years at baseline, meaning that they were eligible for a colonoscopy through the entirety of the 10-year follow-up period. Covariates included demographics (age, race, and neighborhood SES), health services utilization, psychiatric and physical comorbidities, and prior colonoscopy or fecal occult blood testing. Entropy balancing was used to control for confounding in weighted log-binomial models calculating RR and 95% CIs.

Results

Patients were on average aged 57.1 (±4.5) years, 58.2% were female, 81.0% were White, and 16.9% were of Black race. The most prevalent comorbidities were obesity (29.6%) and hypertension (29.4%), followed by smoking/nicotine dependence (21.0%). The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity was depression (6.4%), followed by anxiety disorder (4.5%). During the 10-year follow-up period, 40.3% of eligible patients completed a colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening test, and individuals with a substance use disorder diagnosis were significantly less likely to receive a colorectal cancer colonoscopy screening test both prior to and after controlling for confounding (RR=0.73; 95% CI=0.70, 0.77 and RR=0.81; 95% CI=0.74, 0.89, respectively). Results were not modified by sex, race, psychiatric comorbidity, or neighborhood SES.

Conclusions

Personal history of substance use disorder was independently associated with lower screening completion rates. Healthcare professionals should recognize unique barriers among individuals with substance use disorder and then address them individually as a multidisciplinary team in the outpatient setting to reduce this health disparity.

Prevalence of colonoscopy in Japan using a large-scale health claims data compared to esophagogastroduodenoscopy

OBJECTIVE

Prevalence of colonoscopy (CS) is an important countermeasure against colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we used large-scale data for a comparison of CS with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in Japan.

METHODS

This was a retrospective descriptive study. Commercially anonymized patient data were collected from various health insurance societies (JMDC, Inc. Tokyo, Japan) generated from the insurance registry, receipts (inpatient, outpatient, and prescription), and health checkup data. The data also included healthy subjects who had never been examined in a hospital. The data of 2,760,048 persons who were 50-75 years old during January 2012-December 2019 were extracted from the original data source. The annual rate, the prevalence rate (frequency of those undergoing at least one endoscopy during the period), and the percentage of repeaters (undergoing endoscopy at least twice during the period) of CS were calculated and compared to those of EGD.

RESULTS

The annual rates in 2012/2015/2019 were 3.4%/4.5%/5.3% for CS, respectively, and increased gradually from 2012 to 2019. Those rates were 7.0%/7.9%/7.4% for EGD, respectively, and did not increase. The prevalence rates of CS and EGD were 25.3% and 36.2%, respectively, among the 137,246 participants over 8 years. The prevalence rates of individuals in their 50 s/60 s/70 s were 23.0%/25.9%/31.4% for CS and 33.0%/37.6%/40.7% for EGD, respectively. The proportions of males/females were 27.9%/20.7% for CS, and 36.4%/35.8% for EGD, respectively. The repeat rates of CS and EGD were 40.3% and 44.8%, respectively, over 8 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Using large-scale data, we determined the status of CS and EGD in Japan.

LightCF-Net: A Lightweight Long-Range Context Fusion Network for Real-Time Polyp Segmentation

Automatically segmenting polyps from colonoscopy videos is crucial for developing computer-assisted diagnostic systems for colorectal cancer. Existing automatic polyp segmentation methods often struggle to fulfill the real-time demands of clinical applications due to their substantial parameter count and computational load, especially those based on Transformer architectures. To tackle these challenges, a novel lightweight long-range context fusion network, named LightCF-Net, is proposed in this paper. This network attempts to model long-range spatial dependencies while maintaining real-time performance, to better distinguish polyps from background noise and thus improve segmentation accuracy. A novel Fusion Attention Encoder (FAEncoder) is designed in the proposed network, which integrates Large Kernel Attention (LKA) and channel attention mechanisms to extract deep representational features of polyps and unearth long-range dependencies. Furthermore, a newly designed Visual Attention Mamba module (VAM) is added to the skip connections, modeling long-range context dependencies in the encoder-extracted features and reducing background noise interference through the attention mechanism. Finally, a Pyramid Split Attention module (PSA) is used in the bottleneck layer to extract richer multi-scale contextual features. The proposed method was thoroughly evaluated on four renowned polyp segmentation datasets: Kvasir-SEG, CVC-ClinicDB, BKAI-IGH, and ETIS. Experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed method delivers higher segmentation accuracy in less time, consistently outperforming the most advanced lightweight polyp segmentation networks.

Optimal timing of a colonoscopy screening schedule depends on adenoma detection, adenoma risk, adherence to screening and the screening objective: A microsimulation study

Colonoscopy-based screening provides protection against colorectal cancer (CRC), but the optimal starting age and time intervals of screening colonoscopies are unknown. We aimed to determine an optimal screening schedule for the US population and its dependencies on the objective of screening (life years gained or incidence, mortality, or cost reduction) and the setting in which screening is performed. We used our established open-source microsimulation model CMOST to calculate optimized colonoscopy schedules with one, two, three or four screening colonoscopies between 20 and 90 years of age. A single screening colonoscopy was most effective in reducing life years lost from CRC when performed at 55 years of age. Two, three and four screening colonoscopy schedules saved a maximum number of life years when performed between 49-64 years; 44-69 years; and 40-72 years; respectively. However, for maximum incidence and mortality reduction, screening colonoscopies needed to be scheduled 4-8 years later in life. The optimum was also influenced by adenoma detection efficiency with lower values for these parameters favoring a later starting age of screening. Low adherence to screening consistently favored a later start and an earlier end of screening. In a personalized approach, optimal screening would start earlier for high-risk patients and later for low-risk individuals. In conclusion, our microsimulation-based approach supports colonoscopy screening schedule between 45 and 75 years of age but the precise timing depends on the objective of screening, as well as assumptions regarding individual CRC risk, efficiency of adenoma detection during colonoscopy and adherence to screening.

Investigation of the relationship between colonoscopy insertion difficulty factors and endoscope shape using an endoscopic position detection unit

In this study, we investigated the relationship between the cecal intubation time (CIT) and the form and method used for passing through the sigmoid/descending colon junction (SDJ) and the hepatic flexure using an endoscopic position detection unit (UPD), with reference to various factors [age, sex, body mass index (BMI), history of abdominal and pelvic surgery, and diverticulum]. A total of 152 patients underwent colonoscopy with UPD. The mean age was 66.9 ± 12.4 years, and the male to female ratio was 3.6:1. The average CIT time was 14.3 ± 8.2 min. Age, number of experienced endoscopies, history of abdominal and pelvic surgery, BMI, and diverticulum were associated with prolonged CIT; SDJ passage pattern was straight: 8.6 ± 5.0, alpha loop: 11.8 ± 5.6, puzzle ring-like loop: 20.2 ± 5.0, reverse alpha loop: 22.4 ± 9.7, and other loop: 24.7 ± 10.5. The hepatic flexure passing method was in the following order: right rotation maneuver: 12.6 ± 6.6, push maneuver: 15.1 ± 5.9, and right rotation with positional change maneuver: 20.5 ± 7.2. In conclusion, colonoscopy with UPD revealed an association between CIT and SDJ passage pattern and hepatic flexure passing method.

Effects of a modified invitation letter to follow-up colonoscopy for bowel cancer detection

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether modifications made to the current National Health Service (NHS) invitation letter for follow-up colonoscopy examination affect participant state anxiety and behavioural intentions to attend.

METHODS

Five hundred and thirty-eight adults of bowel cancer-eligible screening age (56-74) were randomized to receive the current NHS invitation letter or the modified version of the letter as a hypothetical scenario. Modifications to the letter included fewer uses of the term cancer and awareness of alternative screening options. The history of the colonoscopy invitation, anticipated state anxiety, behavioural intention to attend the nurse appointment, and colonoscopy concerns upon reading the letter were measured.

RESULTS

Behavioural intentions were high in both conditions; however, participants reading the current letter reported significantly higher behavioural intentions compared to the modified letter. There was no main effect of previous invite status or interaction between previous invite status and letter condition on behavioural intentions. However, the effect of the letter on levels of anxiety depended on the participant's invitation history. Those never invited for a colonoscopy were more anxious when reading the modified letter compared to the current letter. Conversely, previous colonoscopy invitees were less anxious following reading the modified letter than those reading the current letter. Those never invited for a colonoscopy were more concerned about embarrassment and test invasiveness. All findings remained the same when controlling for age and education.

CONCLUSION

Modifications to the invitation letter were not beneficial to levels of screening intention or anxiety.

Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of oral sulfate tablet versus 2 L-polyethylene glycol/ascorbate for bowel preparation in older patients: prospective, multicenter, investigator single-blinded, randomized study

BACKGROUND

We compared the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of oral sulfate tablets (OST, which contains simethicone) and 2 L-polyethylene glycol/ascorbate (2 L-PEG/Asc) with a split-dosing regimen in older individuals aged ≥ 70 years who underwent scheduled colonoscopy.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded, multicenter study was conducted between June 2022 and October 2023. Participants aged ≥ 70 years were randomized at a ratio of 1:1 to the OST or 2 L-PEG/Asc groups.

RESULTS

In total, 254 patients were evaluated using a modified full analysis set. Successful overall bowel preparation was excellent and similar between the OST and 2 L-PEG/Asc groups for the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) (96.5% vs. 96.6%) and Harefield Cleansing Scale (HCS) (96.5% vs. 97.4%). The overall high-quality preparation rate was higher in the OST group than in the 2 L-PEG/Asc group (BBPS: 55.7% vs. 28.4%, P < 0.001; HCS: 66.1% vs. 38.8%, P < 0.001). The overall adenoma detection rate (54.8% vs. 35.3, P = 0.003) was superior in the OST group compared to the 2 L-PEG/Asc group. Tolerability scores, including overall satisfaction, were generally higher in the OST group than in the 2 L-PEG/Asc group. The incidence of major solicited adverse events was comparable between the two groups (55.7% vs. 68.1, P = 0.051), and there were no clinically significant changes in the serum laboratory profiles on the day of or 7 days after colonoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

OST is an effective and safe low-volume agent for colonoscopy, with better tolerance than 2 L-PEG/Asc, in older individuals aged ≥ 70 years.

One-day versus three-day low-residue diet bowel preparation regimens before colonoscopy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although studies have shown that the quality of bowel preparation with low-residue diet (LRD) is as effective as that of clear fluid diet (CLD), there is currently no consensus on how long an LRD should last. The aim of this study was to compare a 1-day versus 3-day LRD on bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

METHODS

A systematic review search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane database from inception to April 2023. We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared 1-day with 3-day LRD bowel cleansing regiments for patients undergoing colonoscopy. The rate of adequate bowel preparation, polyp detection rate, adenoma detection rate, tolerability, willingness to repeat preparation, and adverse events were estimated using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We also performed meta-analysis to identify risk factors and predictors of inadequate preparation.

RESULTS

Four studies published between 2019 and 2023 with 1927 participants were included. The present meta-analysis suggested that 1-day LRD was comparable with 3-day LRD for adequate bowel preparation (OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65-1.21; P = 0.45; I2 = 0%; P = 0.52). The polyp detection rate (OR 0.94; 95% CI, 0.77-1.14; P = 0.52; I2 = 23%; P = 0.27) and adenoma detection rate (OR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.71-1.08; P = 0.21; I2 = 0%; P = 0.52) were similar between the groups. There were significantly higher odds of tolerability in patients consuming 1-day LRD compared with 3-day LRD (OR 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13-2.39; P < 0.01; I2 = 47%; P = 0.15). In addition, constipation was identified as the independent predictor of inadequate preparation (OR 1.98; 95% CI, 1.27-3.11; P < 0.01; I2 = 0%; P = 0.46).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that a 1-day LRD was as effective as a 3-day CLD in the quality of bowel preparation before colonoscopy and significantly improved tolerability of patients. In addition, constipation is an independent risk factor of poor bowel preparation, and the duration of LRD in patients with constipation still needs further clinical trials.

Influence of Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors on Predictive Value of a Positive Multitarget Stool DNA Test

GOALS

We analyzed if the predictive value of multitarget stool-based DNA (mt-sDNA) varied when patients had pre-existing known colorectal cancer (CRC) risk factors.

BACKGROUND

mt-sDNA test is approved for CRC screening in average-risk patients. Whether patients with a personal history of adenomatous colon polyps or a family history of CRC (CRC risk factors) benefit from mt-sDNA testing is unknown.

STUDY

We reviewed charts for all positive mt-sDNA referrals between 2017 and 2021. Diagnostic colonoscopy adherence rates were calculated. In those who had colonoscopy, we compared detection rates for any colorectal neoplasia (CRN), multiple (3 or more) adenomas, sessile serrated polyps (SSP), advanced CRN, and CRC between patients with and without known CRC risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 1297 referrals for positive mt-sDNA, 1176 (91%) completed a diagnostic colonoscopy. The absence of neoplasia was noted in 27% of colonoscopy exams. When neoplasia was identified, findings were as follows: any CRN (73%), multiple adenomas (34%), SSP (23%), advanced CRN (33%), and CRC (2.5%). One or more CRC risk factors were present in 229 (19%) of cases. In the CRC risk factor subgroup, patients having a prior history of adenomatous polyps or a family history of CRC were no more likely to have any CRN, multiple adenomas, SSP, advanced CRN, or CRC compared to average-risk patients when mt-sDNA was positive.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world analysis of positive mt-sDNA referrals, adherence to subsequent diagnostic colonoscopy recommendations was high. The presence of pre-existing CRC risk factors did not affect the positive predictive value of mt-sDNA.

Colon Polyp Surveillance: Separating the Wheat From the Chaff

One goal of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is to prevent CRC incidence by removing precancerous colonic polyps, which are detected in up to 50% of screening examinations. Yet, the lifetime risk of CRC is 3.9%-4.3%, so it is clear that most of these individuals with polyps would not develop CRC in their lifetime. It is, therefore, a challenge to determine which individuals with polyps will benefit from follow-up, and at what intervals. There is some evidence that individuals with advanced polyps, based on size and histology, benefit from intensive surveillance. However, a large proportion of individuals will have small polyps without advanced histologic features (ie, "nonadvanced"), where the benefits of surveillance are uncertain and controversial. Demand for surveillance will further increase as more polyps are detected due to increased screening uptake, recent United States recommendations to expand screening to younger individuals, and emergence of polyp detection technology. We review the current understanding and clinical implications of the natural history, biology, and outcomes associated with various categories of colon polyps based on size, histology, and number. Our aims are to highlight key knowledge gaps, specifically focusing on certain categories of polyps that may not be associated with future CRC risk, and to provide insights to inform research priorities and potential management strategies. Optimization of CRC prevention programs based on updated knowledge about the future risks associated with various colon polyps is essential to ensure cost-effective screening and surveillance, wise use of resources, and inform efforts to personalize recommendations.

A Randomized Trial of Choice Architecture and Mailed Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach in a Community Health Setting

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Mailed outreach for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening increases uptake but it is unclear how to offer the choice of testing. We evaluated if the active choice between colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical test (FIT), or FIT alone, increased response compared with colonoscopy alone.

METHODS

This pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial at a community health center included patients between ages 50 and 74 who were not up to date with CRC screening. Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to the following: (1) colonoscopy only, (2) active choice of colonoscopy or FIT, or (3) FIT only. Patients received an outreach letter with instructions for testing (colonoscopy referral and/or an enclosed FIT kit), a reminder letter at 2 months, and another reminder at 3 to 5 months via text message or automated voice recording. The primary outcome was CRC screening completion within 6 months.

RESULTS

Among 738 patients in the final analysis, the mean age was 58.7 years (SD, 6.2 y); 48.6% were insured by Medicaid and 24.3% were insured by Medicare; and 71.7% were White, 16.9% were Black, and 7.3% were Hispanic/Latino. At 6 months, 5.6% (95% CI, 2.8-8.5) completed screening in the colonoscopy-only arm, 12.8% (95% CI, 8.6-17.0) in the active-choice arm, and 11.3% (95% CI, 7.4-15.3) in the FIT-only arm. Compared with colonoscopy only, there was a significant increase in screening in active choice (absolute difference, 7.1%; 95% CI, 2.0-12.2; P = .006) and FIT only (absolute difference, 5.7%; 95% CI, 0.8-10.6; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Both choice of testing and FIT alone increased response and may align with patient preferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov NCT04711473.

Effects of joint screening for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer - results from a controlled trial

Background

Although screening is widely used to reduce cancer burden, untargeted cancers are frequently missed after single cancer screening. Joint cancer screening is presumed as a more effective strategy to reduce overall cancer burden.

Methods

Gender-specific screening effects on PLCO cancer incidence, PLCO cancer mortality, all-neoplasms mortality and all-cause mortality were evaluated, and meta-analyses based on gender-specific screening effects were conducted to achieve the pooled effects. The cut-off value of time-dependent receiver-operating-characteristic curve of 10-year combined PLCO cancer risk was used to reclassify participants into low- and high-risk subgroups. Further analyses were conducted to investigate screening effects stratified by risk groups and screening compliance.

Results

After a median follow-up of 10.48 years for incidence and 16.85 years for mortality, a total of 5,506 PLCO cancer cases, 1,845 PLCO cancer deaths, 3,970 all-neoplasms deaths, and 14,221 all-cause deaths were documented in the screening arm, while 6,261, 2,417, 5,091, and 18,516 outcome-specific events in the control arm. Joint cancer screening did not significantly reduce PLCO cancer incidence, but significantly reduced male-specific PLCO cancer mortality (hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals [HR(95%CIs)]: 0.88(0.82, 0.95)) and pooled mortality [0.89(0.84, 0.95)]. More importantly, joint cancer screening significantly reduced both gender-specific all-neoplasm mortality [0.91(0.86, 0.96) for males, 0.91(0.85, 0.98) for females, and 0.91(0.87, 0.95) for meta-analyses] and all-cause mortality [0.90(0.88, 0.93) for male, 0.88(0.85, 0.92) for female, and 0.89(0.87, 0.91) for meta-analyses]. Further analyses showed decreased risks of all-neoplasm mortality was observed with good compliance [0.72(0.67, 0.77) for male and 0.72(0.65, 0.80) for female] and increased risks with poor compliance [1.61(1.40, 1.85) for male and 1.30(1.13, 1.40) for female].

Conclusion

Joint cancer screening could be recommended as a potentially strategy to reduce the overall cancer burden. More compliance, more benefits. However, organizing a joint cancer screening not only requires more ingenious design, but also needs more attentions to the potential harms.

Trial registration

NCT00002540 (Prostate), NCT01696968 (Lung), NCT01696981 (Colorectal), NCT01696994 (Ovarian).

Detailed Superiority of the CAD EYE Artificial Intelligence System over Endoscopists for Lesion Detection and Characterization Using Unique Movie Sets

Objectives

Detailed superiority of CAD EYE (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan), an artificial intelligence for polyp detection/diagnosis, compared to endoscopists is not well examined. We examined endoscopist's ability using movie sets of colorectal lesions which were detected and diagnosed by CAD EYE accurately.

Methods

Consecutive lesions of ≤10 mm were examined live by CAD EYE from March-June 2022 in our institution. Short unique movie sets of each lesion with and without CAD EYE were recorded simultaneously using two recorders for detection under white light imaging (WLI) and linked color imaging (LCI) and diagnosis under blue laser/light imaging (BLI). Excluding inappropriate movies, 100 lesions detected and diagnosed with CAD EYE accurately were evaluated. Movies without CAD EYE were evaluated first by three trainees and three experts. Subsequently, movies with CAD EYE were examined. The rates of accurate detection and diagnosis were evaluated for both movie sets.

Results

Among 100 lesions (mean size: 4.7±2.6 mm; 67 neoplastic/33 hyperplastic), mean accurate detection rates of movies without or with CAD EYE were 78.7%/96.7% under WLI (p<0.01) and 91.3%/97.3% under LCI (p<0.01) for trainees and 85.3%/99.0% under WLI (p<0.01) and 92.6%/99.3% under LCI (p<0.01) for experts. Mean accurate diagnosis rates of movies without or with CAD EYE for BLI were 85.3%/100% for trainees (p<0.01) and 92.3%/100% for experts (p<0.01), respectively. The significant risk factors of not-detected lesions for trainees were right-sided, hyperplastic, not-reddish, in the corner, halation, and inadequate bowel preparation.

Conclusions

Unique movie sets with and without CAD EYE could suggest it's efficacy for lesion detection/diagnosis.

Germline genetic regulation of the colorectal tumor immune microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the contribution of germline genetics to regulating the briskness and diversity of T cell responses in CRC, we conducted a genome-wide association study to examine the associations between germline genetic variation and quantitative measures of T cell landscapes in 2,876 colorectal tumors from participants in the Molecular Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Study (MECC).

METHODS

Germline DNA samples were genotyped and imputed using genome-wide arrays. Tumor DNA samples were extracted from paraffin blocks, and T cell receptor clonality and abundance were quantified by immunoSEQ (Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle, WA). Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes per high powered field (TILs/hpf) were scored by a gastrointestinal pathologist. Regression models were used to evaluate the associations between each variant and the three T-cell features, adjusting for sex, age, genotyping platform, and global ancestry. Three independent datasets were used for replication.

RESULTS

We identified a SNP (rs4918567) near RBM20 associated with clonality at a genome-wide significant threshold of 5 × 10- 8, with a consistent direction of association in both discovery and replication datasets. Expression quantitative trait (eQTL) analyses and in silico functional annotation for these loci provided insights into potential functional roles, including a statistically significant eQTL between the T allele at rs4918567 and higher expression of ADRA2A (P = 0.012) in healthy colon mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that germline genetic variation is associated with the quantity and diversity of adaptive immune responses in CRC. Further studies are warranted to replicate these findings in additional samples and to investigate functional genomic mechanisms.

Early-Onset Gastrointestinal Malignancies: An Investigation into a Rising Concern

There is growing recognition of early-onset gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies in young adults < 50 years of age. While much of the literature has emphasized colorectal cancer, these also include esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and biliary tract malignancies. Various factors, including lifestyle, hereditary, and environmental elements, have been proposed to explain the rising incidence of GI malignancies in the younger population. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent literature, including global trends and information regarding genetic and environmental risk factors.

Analysis of the Characteristics of Coexisting Lesions in Colorectal Cancer Patients in an International Study: A Subgroup Analysis of the ATLAS Trial

INTRODUCTION

We investigated coexisting lesion types in patients with invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) in a multinational study for comprehending the adenoma-carcinoma and serrated pathway about the development of CRC.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 3,050 patients enrolled in the international randomized controlled trial (ATLAS study) to evaluate the colorectal polyp detection performance of image-enhanced endoscopy in 11 institutions in four Asian countries/regions. In the current study, as a subgroup analysis of the ATLAS study, 92 CRC patients were extracted and compared to 2,958 patients without CRC to examine the effects of age, sex, and coexisting lesion types (high-grade adenoma [HGA], low-grade adenoma with villous component [LGAV], 10 adenomas, adenoma ≥10 mm, sessile serrated lesions [SSLs], and SSLs with dysplasia [SSLD]). Additional analyses of coexisting lesion types were performed according to sex and location of CRC (right- or left-sided).

RESULTS

A multivariate analysis showed that HGA (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 4.29 [2.16-8.18]; p < 0.01), LGAV (3.02 [1.16-7.83], p = 0.02), and age (1.04 [1.01-1.06], p = 0.01) were independently associated with CRC. According to sex, the coexisting lesion types significantly associated with CRC were LGAV (5.58 [1.94-16.0], p < 0.01) and HGA (4.46 [1.95-10.20], p < 0.01) in males and HGA (4.82 [1.47-15.80], p < 0.01) in females. Regarding the location of CRC, SSLD (21.9 [1.31-365.0], p = 0.03) was significant for right-sided CRC, and HGA (5.22 [2.39-11.4], p < 0.01) and LGAV (3.46 [1.13-10.6], p = 0.02) were significant for left-sided CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant coexisting lesions in CRC differed according to sex and location. These findings may contribute to comprehending the pathogenesis of CRC.

Colorectal Cancer: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the epidemiology of CRC across different populations, most probably due to differences in exposure to lifestyle and environmental factors related to CRC. Prevention is the most effective method for controlling CRC. Primary prevention includes determining and avoiding modifiable risk factors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, and dietary factors) as well as increasing protective factors (e.g., physical activity, aspirin). Further studies, especially randomized, controlled trials, are needed to clarify the association between CRC incidence and exposure to different risk factors or protective factors. Detection and removal of precancerous colorectal lesions is also an effective strategy for controlling CRC. Multiple factors, both at the individual and community levels (e.g., patient preferences, availability of screening modalities, costs, benefits, and adverse events), should be taken into account in designing and implementing CRC screening programs. Health policymakers should consider the best decision in identifying the starting age and selection of the most effective screening strategies for the target population. This review aims to present updated evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of CRC.

In vivo pilot study into superficial microcirculatory characteristics of colorectal adenomas using novel high-resolution magnifying endoscopy with blue laser imaging

BACKGROUND

No studies have yet been conducted on changes in microcirculatory hemodynamics of colorectal adenomas in vivo under endoscopy. The microcirculation of the colorectal adenoma could be observed in vivo by a novel high-resolution magnification endoscopy with blue laser imaging (BLI), thus providing a new insight into the microcirculation of early colon tumors.

AIM

To observe the superficial microcirculation of colorectal adenomas using the novel magnifying colonoscope with BLI and quantitatively analyzed the changes in hemodynamic parameters.

METHODS

From October 2019 to January 2020, 11 patients were screened for colon adenomas with the novel high-resolution magnification endoscope with BLI. Video images were recorded and processed with Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop and Image-pro Plus software. Four microcirculation parameters: Microcirculation vessel density (MVD), mean vessel width (MVW) with width standard deviation (WSD), and blood flow velocity (BFV), were calculated for adenomas and the surrounding normal mucosa.

RESULTS

A total of 16 adenomas were identified. Compared with the normal surrounding mucosa, the superficial vessel density in the adenomas was decreased (MVD: 0.95 ± 0.18 vs 1.17 ± 0.28 μm/μm2, P < 0.05). MVW (5.11 ± 1.19 vs 4.16 ± 0.76 μm, P < 0.05) and WSD (11.94 ± 3.44 vs 9.04 ± 3.74, P < 0.05) were both increased. BFV slowed in the adenomas (709.74 ± 213.28 vs 1256.51 ± 383.31 μm/s, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The novel high-resolution magnification endoscope with BLI can be used for in vivo study of adenoma superficial microcirculation. Superficial vessel density was decreased, more irregular, with slower blood flow.

Should we perform sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in people under 45 years?

BACKGROUND

The strategy for preventing colorectal cancer is screening by colonoscopy, which offers a direct way for detection and removal of adenomatous polyps (APs). American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend that people aged ≥ 45 years should undergo colonoscopy; however, how to deal with people aged ≤ 45 years is still unknown.

AIM

To compare the prevalence of APs and high-grade neoplasia between the left and right colon in patients ≤ 45 years.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted at a single tertiary III hospital in China. This study included patients aged 18-45 years with undergoing initial colonoscopy dissection and pathological diagnosis AP or high-grade neoplasia between February 2014 and January 2021. The number of APs in the entire colon while screening and post-polypectomy surveillance in following 1-3 years were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 3053 cases were included. The prevalence of APs in the left and right colon was 55.0% and 41.6%, respectively (OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.6-2.4; P < 0.05). For APs with high-grade neoplasia, the prevalence was 2.7% and 0.9%, respectively (OR 3.0, 95%CI 2.0-4.6; P < 0.05). Therefore, the prevalence of APs and high-grade neoplasia in the left colon was significantly higher than in the right colon in patients aged ≤ 45 years. There were 327 patients who voluntarily participated in post-polypectomy surveillance in following 1-3 years, and APs were found in 216 cases (66.1%); 170 cases had 1-3 polyps (52.0%) and 46 cases had > 3 polyps (14.1%; OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.6; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that flexible sigmoidoscopy would be an optimal approach for initial screening in people aged ≤ 45 years and would be a more cost-effective and safe strategy.

Colorectal cancer screening: A review of current knowledge and progress in research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, being the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite the progress in screening, early diagnosis, and treatment, approximately 20%-25% of CRC patients still present with metastatic disease at the time of their initial diagnosis. Furthermore, the burden of disease is still expected to increase, especially in individuals younger than 50 years old, among whom early-onset CRC incidence has been increasing. Screening and early detection are pivotal to improve CRC-related outcomes. It is well established that CRC screening not only reduces incidence, but also decreases deaths from CRC. Diverse screening strategies have proven effective in decreasing both CRC incidence and mortality, though variations in efficacy have been reported across the literature. However, uncertainties persist regarding the optimal screening method, age intervals and periodicity. Moreover, adherence to CRC screening remains globally low. In recent years, emerging technologies, notably artificial intelligence, and non-invasive biomarkers, have been developed to overcome these barriers. However, controversy exists over the actual impact of some of the new discoveries on CRC-related outcomes and how to effectively integrate them into daily practice. In this review, we aim to cover the current evidence surrounding CRC screening. We will further critically assess novel approaches under investigation, in an effort to differentiate promising innovations from mere novelties.

Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death. Screening has been proven to reduce both cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality. Various screening tests are available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages and varying levels of evidence to support their use. Clinicians should offer CRC screening to average-risk persons aged 50 to 75 years; starting screening at age 45 years remains controversial. Screening may be beneficial in select persons aged 76 to 85 years, based on their overall health and screening history. Offering a choice of screening tests or sequentially offering an alternate test for those who do not complete screening can significantly increase participation.

Next-Generation Multitarget Stool DNA Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening

BACKGROUND

A next-generation multitarget stool DNA test, including assessments of DNA molecular markers and hemoglobin level, was developed to improve the performance of colorectal cancer screening, primarily with regard to specificity.

METHODS

In a prospective study, we evaluated a next-generation multitarget stool DNA test in asymptomatic adults 40 years of age or older who were undergoing screening colonoscopy. The primary outcomes were sensitivity of the test for colorectal cancer and specificity for advanced neoplasia (colorectal cancer or advanced precancerous lesions). Advanced precancerous lesions included one or more adenomas or sessile serrated lesions measuring at least 1 cm in the longest dimension, lesions with villous histologic features, and high-grade dysplasia. Secondary objectives included the quantification of sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions and specificity for nonneoplastic findings or negative colonoscopy and comparison of sensitivities for colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous lesions between the multitarget stool DNA test and a commercially available fecal immunochemical test (FIT).

RESULTS

Of 20,176 participants, 98 had colorectal cancer, 2144 had advanced precancerous lesions, 6973 had nonadvanced adenomas, and 10,961 had nonneoplastic findings or negative colonoscopy. With the next-generation test, sensitivity for colorectal cancer was 93.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.1 to 97.7), and specificity for advanced neoplasia was 90.6% (95% CI, 90.1 to 91.0). Sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions was 43.4% (95% CI, 41.3 to 45.6), and specificity for nonneoplastic findings or negative colonoscopy was 92.7% (95% CI, 92.2 to 93.1). With the FIT, sensitivity was 67.3% (95% CI, 57.1 to 76.5) for colorectal cancer and 23.3% (95% CI, 21.5 to 25.2) for advanced precancerous lesions; specificity was 94.8% (95% CI, 94.4 to 95.1) for advanced neoplasia and 95.7% (95% CI, 95.3 to 96.1) for nonneoplastic findings or negative colonoscopy. As compared with FIT, the next-generation test had superior sensitivity for colorectal cancer (P<0.001) and for advanced precancerous lesions (P<0.001) but had lower specificity for advanced neoplasia (P<0.001). No adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The next-generation multitarget stool DNA test showed higher sensitivity for colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous lesions than FIT but also showed lower specificity. (Funded by Exact Sciences; BLUE-C ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04144738.).

Proportions and characteristics of interval cancer in annual fecal immunochemical test screening and postcolonoscopy colorectal cancer: Results from a Japanese multicenter prospective study using questionnaires, the C-DETECT study

OBJECTIVES

There are several types of colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the detection methods and intervals, including interval CRC (iCRC) and postcolonoscopy CRC (PCCRC). We aimed to examine their proportions and characteristics.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter prospective study using questionnaires in Japan ("C-DETECT study"), in which differences in CRC characteristics according to detection methods and intervals were examined from consecutive adult patients. Because the annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) was used in population-based screening, the annual FIT-iCRC was assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 1241 CRC patients (1064 with invasive CRC) were included. Annual FIT-iCRC (a), 3-year PCCRC (b), and CRC detected within 1 year after a positive FIT with noncompliance to colonoscopy (c) accounted for 4.5%, 7.0%, and 3.9% of all CRCs, respectively, and for 3.9%, 5.4%, and 4.3% of invasive CRCs, respectively. The comparison among these (a, b, c) and other CRCs (d) demonstrated differences in the proportions of ≥T2 invasion ([a] 58.9%, [b] 44.8%, [c] 87.5%, [d] 73.0%), metastasis ([a] 33.9%, [b] 21.8%, [c] 54.2%, [d] 43.9%), right-sided CRC ([a] 42.9%, [b] 40.2%, [c] 18.8%, [d] 28.6%), and female sex ([a] 53.6%, [b] 49.4%, [c] 27.1%, [d] 41.6%). In metastatic CRC, (a) and (b) showed a higher proportions of BRAF mutations ([a] [b] 12.0%, [c] [d] 3.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Annual FIT-iCRC and 3-year PCCRC existed in nonnegligible proportions. They were characterized by higher proportions of right-sided tumors, female sex, and BRAF mutations. These findings suggest that annual FIT-iCRC and 3-year PCCRC may have biological features different from those of other CRCs.

The Efficacy of Real-time Computer-aided Detection of Colonic Neoplasia in Community Practice: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The use of computer-aided detection (CADe) has increased the adenoma detection rates (ADRs) during colorectal cancer (CRC) screening/surveillance in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) but has not shown benefit in real-world implementation studies. We performed a single-center pragmatic RCT to evaluate the impact of real-time CADe on ADRs in colonoscopy performed by community gastroenterologists.

METHODS

We enrolled 1100 patients undergoing colonoscopy for CRC screening, surveillance, positive fecal-immunohistochemical tests, and diagnostic indications at one community-based center from September 2022 to March 2023. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to traditional colonoscopy or real-time CADe. Blinded pathologists analyzed histopathologic findings. The primary outcome was ADR (the percentage of patients with at least 1 histologically proven adenoma or carcinoma). Secondary outcomes were adenomas detected per colonoscopy (APC), sessile-serrated lesion detection rate, and non-neoplastic resection rate.

RESULTS

The median age was 55.5 years (interquartile range, 50-62 years), 61% were female, 72.7% were of Hispanic ethnicity, and 9.1% had inadequate bowel preparation. The ADR for the CADe group was significantly higher than the traditional colonoscopy group (42.5% vs 34.4%; P = .005). The mean APC was significantly higher in the CADe group compared with the traditional colonoscopy group (0.89 ± 1.46 vs 0.60 ± 1.12; P < .001). The improvement in adenoma detection was driven by increased detection of <5 mm adenomas. CADe had a higher sessile-serrated lesion detection rate than traditional colonoscopy (4.7% vs 2.0%; P = .01). The improvement in ADR with CADe was significantly higher in the first half of the study (47.2% vs 33.7%; P = .002) compared with the second half (38.7% vs 34.9%; P = .33).

CONCLUSIONS

In a single-center pragmatic RCT, real-time CADe modestly improved ADR and APC in average-detector community endoscopists. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05963724).

Genome-wide polygenic risk scores for colorectal cancer have implications for risk-based screening

BACKGROUND

Hereditary factors, including single genetic variants and family history, can be used for targeting colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but limited data exist on the impact of polygenic risk scores (PRS) on risk-based CRC screening.

METHODS

Using longitudinal health and genomics data on 453,733 Finnish individuals including 8801 CRC cases, we estimated the impact of a genome-wide CRC PRS on CRC screening initiation age through population-calibrated incidence estimation over the life course in men and women.

RESULTS

Compared to the cumulative incidence of CRC at age 60 in Finland (the current age for starting screening in Finland), a comparable cumulative incidence was reached 5 and 11 years earlier in persons with high PRS (80-99% and >99%, respectively), while those with a low PRS (< 20%) reached comparable incidence 7 years later. The PRS was associated with increased risk of post-colonoscopy CRC after negative colonoscopy (hazard ratio 1.76 per PRS SD, 95% CI 1.54-2.01). Moreover, the PRS predicted colorectal adenoma incidence and improved incident CRC risk prediction over non-genetic risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that a CRC PRS can be used for risk stratification of CRC, with further research needed to optimally integrate the PRS into risk-based screening.

Additional 30-Second Observation of the Right-Sided Colon for Missed Polyp Detection With Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging Compared with Narrow Band Imaging: A Randomized Trial

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy of texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) in the novel light-emitting diode endoscopic system for polyp detection has not been examined. We aimed to evaluate the noninferiority of the additional 30-second (Add-30-s) observation of the right-sided colon (cecum/ascending colon) with TXI compared with narrow band imaging (NBI) for detecting missed polyps.

METHODS

We enrolled 381 patients ≥40 years old who underwent colonoscopy from September 2021 to June 2022 in 3 institutions and randomly assigned them to either the TXI or NBI groups. The right-sided colon was first observed with white light imaging in both groups. Second, after reinsertion from hepatic flexure to the cecum, the right-sided colon was observed with Add-30-s observation of either TXI or NBI. The primary endpoint was to examine the noninferiority of TXI to NBI using the mean number of adenomas and sessile serrated lesions per patient. The secondary ones were to examine adenoma detection rate, adenoma and sessile serrated lesions detection rates, and polyp detection rates in both groups.

RESULTS

The TXI and NBI groups consisted of 177 and 181 patients, respectively, and the noninferiorities of the mean number of adenomas and sessile serrated lesions per patients in the second observation were significant (TXI 0.29 [51/177] vs NBI 0.30 [54/181], P < 0.01). The change in adenoma detection rate, adenoma and sessile serrated lesions detection rate, and polyp detection rate for the right-sided colon between the TXI and NBI groups were not different (10.2%/10.5% [ P = 0.81], 13.0%/12.7% [ P = 0.71], and 15.3%/13.8% [ P = 0.71]), respectively.

DISCUSSION

Regarding Add-30-s observation of the right-sided colon, TXI was noninferior to NBI.

Up-to-Date Colonoscopy Use in Asian and Hispanic Subgroups in New York City, 2003-2016

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer screening uptake in the United States overall has increased, but racial/ethnic disparities persist and data on colonoscopy uptake by racial/ethnic subgroups are lacking. We sought to better characterize these trends and to identify predictors of colonoscopy uptake, particularly among Asian and Hispanic subgroups.

STUDY

We used data from the New York City Community Health Survey to generate estimates of up-to-date colonoscopy use in Asian and Hispanic subgroups across 6 time periods spanning 2003-2016. For each subgroup, we calculated the percent change in colonoscopy uptake over the study period and the difference in uptake compared to non-Hispanic Whites in 2015-2016. We also used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of colonoscopy uptake.

RESULTS

All racial and ethnic subgroups with reliable estimates saw a net increase in colonoscopy uptake between 2003 and 2016. In 2015-2016, compared with non-Hispanic Whites, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central/South Americans had higher colonoscopy uptake, whereas Chinese, Asian Indians, and Mexicans had lower uptake. On multivariable analysis, age, marital status, insurance status, primary care provider, receipt of flu vaccine, frequency of exercise, and smoking status were the most consistent predictors of colonoscopy uptake (≥4 time periods).

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant variation in colonoscopy uptake among Asian and Hispanic subgroups. We also identified numerous demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related predictors of colonoscopy uptake. These findings highlight the importance of examining health disparities through the lens of disaggregated racial/ethnic subgroups and have the potential to inform future public health interventions.

Colorectal cancer screening uptake and adherence by modality at a large tertiary care center in the United States: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

Real-world data is crucial to inform existing opportunistic colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention programs. This study aimed to assess CRC screening adherence and utilization of various screening modalities within a Primary Care network over a three-year period (2017-2019).

METHODS

A retrospective review of individuals aged 50-75 years at average CRC risk, with at least one clinic visit in the previous 24 months. The primary outcome, CRC screening adherence (overall and by modality) was examined among the entire eligible population and newly adherent individuals each calendar year. The final sample included 107,366 patients and 218,878 records.

RESULTS

Overall CRC screening adherence increased from 71% in 2017 to 78% in 2019. For "up-to-date" individuals, colonoscopy was the predominant modality (accounting for approximately 74%, versus 4% of adherence for non-invasive options). However, modality utilization trends changed over time in these individuals: mt-sDNA increased 10.2-fold, followed by FIT (1.6-fold) and colonoscopy (1.1-fold). Among newly adherent individuals, the proportion screened by colonoscopy and FOBT decreased over time (89% to 80% and 2.4% to 1.2%, respectively), while uptake of FIT and mt-sDNA increased (7.7% to 11.5% and 0.9% to 6.8%, respectively). Notably, FIT and mt-sDNA increases were most evident in age and race-ethnicity groups with the lowest screening rates.

CONCLUSIONS

In an opportunistic CRC screening program, adherence increased but remained below the national 80% goal. While colonoscopy remained the most utilized modality, new colonoscopy uptake declined, compared with rising mt-sDNA and FIT utilization. Among minority populations, new uptake increased most with mt-sDNA and FIT.

Artificial intelligence-assisted real-time monitoring of effective withdrawal time during colonoscopy: a novel quality marker of colonoscopy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The importance of withdrawal time during colonoscopy cannot be overstated in mitigating the risk of missed lesions and postcolonoscopy colorectal cancer. We evaluated a novel colonoscopy quality metric called the effective withdrawal time (EWT), which is an artificial intelligence (AI)-derived quantitative measure of quality withdrawal time, and its association with various colonic lesion detection rates as compared with standard withdrawal time (SWT).

METHODS

Three hundred fifty video recordings of colonoscopy withdrawal (from the cecum to the anus) were assessed by the new AI model. The primary outcome was adenoma detection rate (ADR) according to different quintiles of EWT. Multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for baseline covariates, was used to determine the adjusted odd ratios (ORs) for EWT on lesion detection rates, with the lowest quintile as reference. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of EWT was compared with SWT.

RESULTS

The crude ADR in different quintiles of EWT, from lowest to highest, was 10.0%, 31.4%, 33.3%, 53.5%, and 85.7%. The ORs of detecting adenomas and polyps were significantly higher in all top 4 quintiles when compared with the lowest quintile. Each minute increase in EWT was associated with a 49% increase in ADR (aOR, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-1.65). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of EWT was also significantly higher than SWT on adenoma detection (.80 [95% CI, .75-.84] vs .70 [95% CI, .64-.74], P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

AI-derived monitoring of EWT is a promising novel quality indicator for colonoscopy, which is more associated with ADR than SWT.