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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Prevalence by Stool DNA Integrity Detection
Published on: June 8, 2020
Can DNA sampling from the rectal mucosa be a novel tool for the detection of colorectal cancer?
Ulrik Wallin1, Ulf Gunnarsson, Bengt Glimelius
1Department of Surgery, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden. ulrik.wallin@surgsci.uu.se
Introduction:
The objective was to evaluate a new method for DNA sampling from the rectal mucosa for the detection of colorectal cancer or any clinically significant pathology in the colon and rectum.
Methods:
This prospective cohort study included patients scheduled for colonoscopy (group 1, n = 185) or colonic resection because of suspected colorectal cancer (group 2, n = 62). A test instrument with a balloon-holding end was introduced through a proctoscope into the rectum to collect exfoliated cells, from which DNA was isolated and quantified.
Results:
The detection of colorectal cancer in group 1 showed a sensitivity for the DNA cut-off levels 1.5, 2, and 2.5 microg/ml of 100%, 80%, and 60%, and a specificity of 37%, 46%, and 56%, respectively. In group 2, for the same cut-off levels, the sensitivity was 73%, 61%, and 55%, and the specificity was 67%, 67%, and 67%, respectively.
Conclusions:
This novel technique is a safe and easy way of collecting DNA from the rectal mucosa. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were too low to be acceptable for a screening test. The low sensitivity and specificity in this study could be explained by the diversity within the study groups as many patients presented with long-term history of colorectal disease and surgical interventions in the past.
