In ScienceDaily today Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers published a study identifying the hereditary components of colorectal cancer (CRC.) The genome-wide scan used in this study will help physicians elucidate the genetic factors in CRC in the future. Once the genes are identified, physicians will be able to use these genetic markers to identify "at risk" patients and to develop better cancer screening strategies, such as colonoscopies well before standard screening begins at age 50. Currently, without new gene tests, family history is the only tool to determine a person's risk for CRC. Knowing the exact gene will allow physicians to better take care of CRC patients and lead to earlier screening.
While the translationof this research into practice will be a major step forward for CRC and other cancers, It will be years before we know how many false positives and false negatives will occur.
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