Page 15 Medical & Healthcare Expert Guide 2019
P. 15
15
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal Cancer (“CRC”) is the collective term for cancer of the
large intestine (colon cancer) and cancer that begins in the rectum
(rectal cancer). Most cases of CRC begin as small, noncancerous
(benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps that over time
become abnormal and grow into cancerous tumors. Over time, the
cancerous cells will invade and destroy normal tissue nearby and
may also travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there
(metastasis).
In most cases, it’s not clear what causes CRC. Inherited gene
mutations such as HNPCC and FAP increase the risk of CRC being
passed through families, but these inherited genes are linked to
only a small percentage of incidents. Recent studies, however,
suggest that diet and lifestyle are contributing factors. Studies
of large groups of people have shown an association between a
typical Western diet and an increased risk of CRC. A typical Western
diet is high in fat and low in fiber. Furthermore, cancer physician
and researcher Kimmie Ng of Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute recently published a study linking a low-insulin-
load diet – consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
healthy protein and fats – to a dramatic drop in CRC recurrence.
Symptoms
Many people with CRC experience no symptoms in the early
stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they’ll likely vary,
depending on the cancer’s size and location. These can include:
•
A change in your bowel habits lasting longer than four
weeks (including diarrhea, constipation and consistency of
your stool).
•
Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.
•
Persistent abdominal discomfort (such as bloating, cramps,
gas or pain).
•
A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
•
Unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Detection & Screening
Patients are advised to make an appointment with their GP as
soon as possible if they notice any symptoms. The American
Cancer Society recommends those with an average risk of CRC
should consider screening from the age of 45. CRC is the fourth
most common cancer and second cause of cancer-related death,
accounting for about nine percent of all diagnosed U.S. cancers.
However, substantial evidence supports the benefits of early
detection as it’s linked to five-year survival rates as high as 90%.
How Epi proColon® is making a
difference
In the United States, CRC screening rates remain sub-optimal
with one in every three age-eligible Americans non-compliant
with screening guidelines. As about 43% of new, later stage CRC
diagnoses and 76% of deaths are attributable to people who are
not up-to-date with screening.
As a result, Epigenomics developed the Epi proColon® blood test
for those age-eligible who are unwilling or unable to be screened
by colonoscopy or take home stool tests. The test provides a
simple and effective alternative to other screening tests and can
be performed as a first step in the early detection and prevention
of CRC.
Available globally, Epi proColon® is an easy and convenient blood
test to get. It is the first cell-free DNA (cfDNA) test to be approved
by the FDA in the United States. There are no medications or
nutritional changes, pre-testing, bowel preparation or stool
collection requirements before having your blood drawn for this
cancer screening.
For more information, please visit:
www.epiprocolon.com
CRC Tumor Cells with
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Cell-Free Methylated Septin 9 DNA
and Other DNA in Plasma
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Released into Blood Vessels
Blood Vessel
Apoptosis
Necrosis
Secretion
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Other DNA
Lumen
Unmethylated DNA
Methylated DNA (cytosine)
A
A
A
T
G
G
G
C
T
T
T
A
5'
5'
5'
3'
3'
3'
3'
5'
C
U
T
A
C
U
T
A
A
A
A
T
G
G
G
C
T
T
T
A
5'
5'
5'
3'
3'
3'
3'
5'
C
U
T
A
C
C
C
G
Untreated
DNA
Bisulfite
Treatment
First PCR
Cycle
Septin 9 DNA-BloodChart
DNA Methylation
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal Cancer (“CRC”) is the collective term for cancer of the
large intestine (colon cancer) and cancer that begins in the rectum
(rectal cancer). Most cases of CRC begin as small, noncancerous
(benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps that over time
become abnormal and grow into cancerous tumors. Over time, the
cancerous cells will invade and destroy normal tissue nearby and
may also travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there
(metastasis).
In most cases, it’s not clear what causes CRC. Inherited gene
mutations such as HNPCC and FAP increase the risk of CRC being
passed through families, but these inherited genes are linked to
only a small percentage of incidents. Recent studies, however,
suggest that diet and lifestyle are contributing factors. Studies
of large groups of people have shown an association between a
typical Western diet and an increased risk of CRC. A typical Western
diet is high in fat and low in fiber. Furthermore, cancer physician
and researcher Kimmie Ng of Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute recently published a study linking a low-insulin-
load diet – consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
healthy protein and fats – to a dramatic drop in CRC recurrence.
Symptoms
Many people with CRC experience no symptoms in the early
stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they’ll likely vary,
depending on the cancer’s size and location. These can include:
•
A change in your bowel habits lasting longer than four
weeks (including diarrhea, constipation and consistency of
your stool).
•
Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.
•
Persistent abdominal discomfort (such as bloating, cramps,
gas or pain).
•
A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
•
Unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Detection & Screening
Patients are advised to make an appointment with their GP as
soon as possible if they notice any symptoms. The American
Cancer Society recommends those with an average risk of CRC
should consider screening from the age of 45. CRC is the fourth
most common cancer and second cause of cancer-related death,
accounting for about nine percent of all diagnosed U.S. cancers.
However, substantial evidence supports the benefits of early
detection as it’s linked to five-year survival rates as high as 90%.
How Epi proColon® is making a
difference
In the United States, CRC screening rates remain sub-optimal
with one in every three age-eligible Americans non-compliant
with screening guidelines. As about 43% of new, later stage CRC
diagnoses and 76% of deaths are attributable to people who are
not up-to-date with screening.
As a result, Epigenomics developed the Epi proColon® blood test
for those age-eligible who are unwilling or unable to be screened
by colonoscopy or take home stool tests. The test provides a
simple and effective alternative to other screening tests and can
be performed as a first step in the early detection and prevention
of CRC.
Available globally, Epi proColon® is an easy and convenient blood
test to get. It is the first cell-free DNA (cfDNA) test to be approved
by the FDA in the United States. There are no medications or
nutritional changes, pre-testing, bowel preparation or stool
collection requirements before having your blood drawn for this
cancer screening.
For more information, please visit:
www.epiprocolon.com
CRC Tumor Cells with
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Cell-Free Methylated Septin 9 DNA
and Other DNA in Plasma
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Released into Blood Vessels
Blood Vessel
Apoptosis
Necrosis
Secretion
Methylated Septin 9 DNA
Other DNA
Lumen
Unmethylated DNA
Methylated DNA (cytosine)
A
A
A
T
G
G
G
C
T
T
T
A
5'
5'
5'
3'
3'
3'
3'
5'
C
U
T
A
C
U
T
A
A
A
A
T
G
G
G
C
T
T
T
A
5'
5'
5'
3'
3'
3'
3'
5'
C
U
T
A
C
C
C
G
Untreated
DNA
Bisulfite
Treatment
First PCR
Cycle
Septin 9 DNA-BloodChart
DNA Methylation
