Colon capsule endoscopy in colorectal cancer screening: a randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Capsule endoscopy is established for small bowel diagnostics but not widely adopted for large bowel evaluation.
• Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs aim for early detection and improved patient outcomes.
• Current CRC screening pathways involve fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and colonoscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) as a filter test within the CRC screening pathway.
• To assess the clinical performance, population acceptability, and economic implications of CCE in CRC screening.
• To compare CCE's role between FIT and colonoscopy in a large-scale trial.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale randomized trial involving 124,214 Danish citizens eligible for CRC screening.
• The intervention group will be offered CCE if their FIT is positive, with subsequent colonoscopy invitations based on findings.
• The control group will follow standard CRC screening procedures.

Main Results:

• This section is not yet available as the study is ongoing.
• Data collection and analysis are in progress to determine the clinical performance, acceptability, and economic impact of CCE.
• Results will guide the integration of CCE into national CRC screening programs.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to determine if CCE can be effectively integrated into CRC screening protocols.
• Findings will inform clinical practice regarding the use of CCE as a less invasive option for positive FIT results.
• The research will provide evidence on the overall utility and cost-effectiveness of CCE in colorectal cancer screening.