Comparing urinary volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers with faecal occult blood testing as a screening tool for colorectal cancer

We will evaluate a new, more sensitive and acceptable method to detect bowel cancer – using a urine test. Bowel cancer is common and many people have advanced disease at diagnosis. Bowel cancer screening involves people with no symptoms providing a stool sample to check for blood which may suggest cancer. If tested positive they undergo an invasive camera test (colonoscopy) of their bowel. Although this process has reduced the numbers dying from bowel cancer, uptake is only 60%. Moreover less than 10% who undergo invasive testing have cancer. Thus we need to find a better screening test.

At UHCW NHS Trust, our group has studied the utility of urine testing for bowel diseases, we wish to extend to examining those without bowel symptoms to review the accuracy of urine testing for bowel cancer as a potential screening tool, which is more acceptable to patients. To our knowledge we are the first group to evaluate this innovative approach in the screening population

In order to utilise this research data we hope in the future to develop a method of transferring this test to the clinical workplace to identify patients at risk of bowel of cancer at point of contact with a doctor. We would also like to engage public health England to advertise our study results on the gov.uk website to gain publicity with the general public plus publish our work in high profile medical journals plus present results at national and international level conferences.