A SIMPLE MUCUS TEST FOR CANCER SCREENING

Comparative and correlative studies of the pathology and pathogenesis of colon cancer in animal models and human disease have resulted in co nceptualization of 'field effect'' theory and identification of marker s that are expressed early during carcinogenesis. This assimilated bod y of knowledge has resulted in development of a simple rectal mucus te st for colon cancer screening. The marker galactose-N acetylgalactosam ine (Gal-GalNAC) is expressed in the rectal mucus of patients with col onic cancer or precancerous lesions and is detected by enzymatic oxida tion (10 minutes) followed by color reaction (1 minute). The high sens itivity; specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictiv e value, as well as the cost-effectiveness of this test makes it a gre at tool in our strategies for early detection, hence control of colon cancer. Because of its high accuracy (as opposed to the fecal occult b lood tests), it would reduce the number of unnecessary colonoscopies, thereby decreasing the total national health-care cost to the society. Similar expression of this marker in cancers of breast, lungs, prosta te, pancreas, makes it a potentially useful general cancer screening t est.