Colorectal Cancer Detection
Lead Researcher:
Associate Professor Denis King
Significance
Every week ninety Australians die from bowel cancer.
The lifetime cumulative risk of CRC, in average risk individuals (i.e. no family history etc) is 5% and this risk increases markedly in the context of predisposing factors such as family history of cancer or polyps.
One in 20 Australians (with no risk factors) will develop bowel cancer and 1 in 30 will ultimately die from colorectal cancer. The incidence of colorectal cancer is second only to prostate cancer in males and second to breast cancer in females. Colorectal cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer deaths (13% of all cancer deaths).
Most significant advances or findings in past 10yrs
A collaborative study with a Danish group looking for a blood marker for asymptomatic bowel cancer. It has been observed that a compound found in the blood called TIMP may be elevated in bowel cancer.
We have contributed 2000 patients of a worldwide collaboration involving approximately 8,000 patients, and the results are being assessed at present.
Most important aspects of current work
Studies in progress:
- Collaborative study with gut neurophysiologist (Prof Elizabeth Burcher) evaluating the neuromuscular disturbances (in vitro) of human colonic tissue.
- Clinical trial of efficacy of a novel tissue sealant in preventing anastomotic leak (the major surgical complication and source of morbidity of complex colonic surgery)
