Individualized risk prediction to optimize population-based colorectal cancer screening
Description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common and the costliest cancer worldwide. Primary and secondary prevention with screening have the potential to reduce incidence and death from the disease by removal of precancerous adenomas and detection of CRC at an early curable stage.In 2008, the region of Stockholm-Gotland started a CRC screening program by randomly inviting 60-69-years-olds to biennial tests for occult blood. After 14 years of follow-up, we have demonstrated a 14% decreased CRC mortality following invitation to screening and now the rest of Sweden has started screening. In 2026, 1,65 million people 60-74 years old are in the target population. The National Board of Health and Welfare consider to recommend start of screening already at age 50, which would generate another 1,3 million people in Sweden to be invited for 25 years.There is a lack of colonoscopy resources needed after a positive screening test. Our hypothesis is that with an individual risk-prediction model for CRC, the re-invitations and colonoscopy surveillance after a significant finding (adenoma) could be tailored and, hence, generate a more cost-effective program with limited side-effects for the screening participants.This collaboration seeks to build a robust personalized risk-prediction tool for CRC to individualize continued screening or surveillance following adenoma detection or not, ultimately offering the potential to reduce unnecessary procedures while enhancing cancer prevention.
Funder: Vetenskapsrådet
Amount: SEK 200,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Research environment
Start date: 2025-12-01
End date: 2026-11-30
Investigator: Johannes Blom
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 2025-03575
OpenAlex ID: G288366593