The exact Sciences Solution
The Science Behind Stool-Based DNA Screening
Over the past decade, intense research has shown the underlying basis of colorectal cancer to be an accumulation of genetic alterations. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 75% of colorectal cancers are not inherited, but disease of the genome, meaning every cancerous cell has some genetic alteration. This knowledge of genomics forms the basis of this new method of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Known DNA alterations associated with screening relevant neoplasia can be identified. The Exact Sciences screening test works by detecting specific, altered DNA sequences in cells that are shed from the lining of the colon into the stool from pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions. The test also includes a hemoglobin detection component which identifies the presence of blood in the stool – another possible indicator of colorectal cancer.