Young adult colorectal cancer rates climb as new blood test option joins screening gu

Key Points:

• The American Cancer Society (ACS) updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines to include blood tests as an option, primarily for individuals unwilling or unable to undergo colonoscopy or stool-based tests, though colonoscopy and stool tests remain preferred due to higher effectiveness in detecting precancerous polyps and early cancer.
• Colorectal cancer incidence is rising among younger adults under 50, increasing about 3% annually from 2013 to 2022, prompting the ACS to recommend regular screening starting at age 45 for average-risk adults, yet screening participation in this group remains low.
• Guardant Health’s Shield blood test, FDA-approved in 2024, detects tumor DNA in blood with 83.1% sensitivity overall but has limited ability to detect early-stage cancer and precancerous lesions, making it less effective for prevention compared to colonoscopy.
• New molecular stool DNA tests like ColoSense and Cologuard Plus demonstrate higher sensitivity for colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions than standard stool tests, and are now preferred screening options alongside colonoscopy.
• Researchers hope blood tests may increase screening adherence, especially among those avoiding traditional methods, but emphasize that blood tests are mainly for early detection, not prevention, and positive results require follow-up colonoscopy for confirmation.