New Test for Colorectal Cancer

A new test that detects cancer cells in the stool through the enzyme tumor M2-PK offers a precise and noninvasive way to screen for colorectal cancer, according to an article published in the July 13, 2004, online edition of the British Journal of Cancer.

Researchers at the University Clinic of Giessen (Germany), led by Professor Hans-Ulrich Kloer and Dr. Philip Hardt, investigated a test based on the tumor marker M2-PK in a study of a group of patients with colorectal cancer and a healthy control group. All subjects underwent a colonoscopy. The sensitivity of the new test was found to be 60-90%, according to the tumor stage. Current tests such as blood-in-the-stool tests have a sensitivity of around 25%. Instead of measuring blood in the stool, the new test detects a tumor-specific enzyme by measuring M2-PK.

"Unlike blood-in-the-stool tests, this test also discovers tumors that don't bleed,” explained Prof. Kloer. "The stool marker tumor M2-PK has very good prerequisites for population screening, with its simple analysis as well as its practicability and test characteristics. Together with the generally higher willingness by the public to participate in noninvasive investigations, this stool test, used in combination with colonoscopy to clarify the positive findings, represents a promising tool to improve the early detection of colorectal cancers.”

The test, called ScheBo-Tumour M2-PK Stool Test, is available from ScheBo-Biotech AG (Giessen, Germany).




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University Clinic of Giessen