- Rhythm Biosciences has appointed its second hospital for the trial of ColoSTAT in detecting colorectal cancer
- Approximately 1,000 patients are expected to take part in the trial
Rhythm Biosciences has secured its second hospital, Monash Health in Victoria, for the clinical trial of its ColoSTAT blood test.
The trial involves a multi-centre study to evaluate the performance of ColoSTAT in how well it diagnoses colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer related deaths in the industrial world. Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.
These growths can then spread from the walls of the colon and grow into blood or lymph vessels.
It is curable in 90 per cent of cases if detected early enough so early screening is crucial. ColoSTAT has the potential to provide a simpler method to screening therefore increasing the survivability rates.
The ColoSTAT test is a biochemical test which measures the presence or concentration of multiple protein biomarkers for collateral cancer. The search for a suitable test began in 2003 and since then 68 proteins have been identified that determine whether a person does or doesn’t have cancer.
The experience of taking this test is the same as a normal blood test. The patient is recommended for a ColoSTAT test by their doctor, they give a blood sample and then the results get processed. If it shows they have colorectal cancer then they will go in for a colonoscopy as soon as possible.
ColoSTAT is designed to be minimally evasive, cost effective and provide another option if a patient wants one. It is estimated that over 100 million people in the US, Europe and Australia will benefit from this.
Rhythm Biosciences expects to sign further hospitals to take part in the trial in the upcoming months.