A new stool-based molecular test could offer patients a colorectal screening tool that can be used in the privacy of their own bathroom.

St. Louis, MO-based Geneoscopy recently presented preliminary results from a large, diverse, multicenter study of its colorectal screening test, which uses stool-derived eukaryotic RNA (seRNA) to detect colorectal cancer and precancerous adenomas. The study enrolled 1,305 patients from across 48 U.S. states with high representation of women, ethnic minorities, and rural populations. The study results were presented late last month at the Association for Molecular Pathology's annual meeting.

“While preliminary, these results highlight that Geneoscopy’s RNA-FIT test can both detect and prevent cancer through sensitive identification of all colorectal neoplasias, which includes precancerous adenomas and early-stage cancers,” said Erica Barnell, PhD, co-founder and current chief scientific officer at Geneoscopy. “This test will provide patients with an easy, safe, at-home screening tool that will facilitate compliance with screening guidelines and result in better health outcomes through high sensitivity for all clinically relevant colorectal lesions.”

The study used digital platforms to virtually recruit and enroll 1,305 participants who provided a stool sample to Geneoscopy prior to receiving a screening colonoscopy. The cohort matched the intended use population, and participants were recruited from 48 states with high representation of women, ethnic minorities, and rural populations. To supplement the prospective cohort, Geneoscopy also assessed a retrospective cohort of patients previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The aggregate results across all 1,322 patients are presented in the table below. 

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 A summary of the full presentation can be accessed through the Geneoscopy website.