American Association for Cancer Research
Journalists: See bottom of this post for audio and video resources
Mayo Clinic researchers are close to developing a quick non-invasive test that can detect early stage colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. The test uses a small sample of a patient’s stool to check for specific DNA changes, known as gene methylation, that occur as cancer develops. In a study, presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, they identified two genes that are optimal targets for the test.
The stool test is currently being evaluated in a large multicenter study in the United States and Canada, involving 10,000 patients at more than 60 medical centers. If the test is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it could become available to patients as early as mid-2013.
Mayo Clinic and Dr. Ahlquist have a financial interest in the technology.
Click here to view the news release.
Journalists: The following audio and video clips with Dr. Ahlquist are available for download and use in your stories.
Broll: MOV
Issues with Screenings: MOV MP3
Below is an edited youtube video of Dr. Ahlquist discussing this latest study. You may embed it with your stories.
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