Affiliation:
1. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Hanover New Hampshire USA
2. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center White River Junction Vermont USA
3. The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice Lebanon New Hampshire USA
Abstract
SummaryBackgroundThe faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is an inexpensive and convenient modality to screen for colorectal cancer. However, its one‐time sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer and cancer precursors is limited. There is growing interest in using the non‐haemoglobin contents of FIT residual buffer to enhance colonic neoplasia detection.AimTo establish from the literature a framework to catalogue candidate biomarkers within FIT residual buffer for non‐invasive colorectal cancer screening.MethodsThe search strategy evaluated PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar for publications through 25 October 2023, with search terms including FIT, buffer, OC‐sensor, biomarkers, microbiome, microRNA (miR), colon, rectum, screening, neoplasm, and early detection. Studies employing home‐based collection samples using quantitative FIT first processed for haemoglobin were included. One author reviewed all articles; a second author completed a 20% full‐text audit to ensure adherence to eligibility criteria.ResultsA broad search yielded 1669 studies and application of eligibility criteria identified 18 relevant studies. Multiple protein, DNA/RNA, and microbiome biomarkers (notably haptoglobin, miR‐16, miR‐27a‐3p, miR‐92a, miR‐148a‐3p, miR‐223, miR‐421, let‐7b‐5p, and Tyzzerella 4) were associated with colorectal neoplasia. Furthermore, studies highlighted the short‐term stability of biomarkers for clinical use and long‐term stability for research purposes.ConclusionsThis scoping review summarises the framework and progress of research on stability of biomarkers in FIT residual buffer and their associations with colorectal neoplasia to guide opportunities for further confirmatory studies to enhance colorectal cancer screening.