Multicentre Study for Data Collection, Development, and Evaluation of Novel CRC Screening and Diagnostic Methods

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most commonly occurring cancer in women. CRC can often be prevented through regular screening. Although colonoscopy-based screening programs result in a significant decrease in CRC incidence, the compliance rate for performing the required screening remains too low and not the desired one. Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is another widely used screening modality for CRC but have certain constraints, such as relatively low sensitivity and the need for multiple sampling (three) to reach full screening potential. The development of novel, more practical screening methods can effectively increase the screening rates for CRC through non-invasive, repeatable, cost-effective, easy-to-use, and patient-friendly procedures. This is of particular importance in different European societies and population subgroups, since an increase in the incidence of Early-Onset CRC is currently noticed, which is significantly associated with risk factors such as heredity, obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, and hyperlipidemia. Within this framework, ONCOSCREEN will develop a multi-tier diagnostic solution towards improved CRC screening. Furthermore, ONCOSCREEN will consider specific socio-economic determinants which increase the regional or national CRC risks, thus exploiting new solutions, particularly in younger high-risk individuals in European communities. For the validation of the developed solution, a clinical validation study (titled "ONCOSCREEN-CS") will be conducted to assess its effectiveness, sensitivity, and specificity in detecting CRC at an early stage. During the first phase of the study (ONCOSCREEN-CS-Phase A), the investigators will identify the different expression patterns of the four diagnostic solutions (ONCO-VOC, ONCO-CRISP, ONCO-NMR, ONCO-CTC) in CRC patients and healthy controls with high risk for CRC, and also initially estimate their sensitivity and specificity. During the second phase (ONCOSCREEN-CS-Phase B), the ONCOSCREEN solution will be clinically validated.