Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
07:35
Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Prevalence by Stool DNA Integrity Detection
Published on: June 8, 2020
Colorectal Cancer Mortality Following an Organized Fecal Immunochemical Test-Based Screening Program
Luis Bujanda1,2, Beatriz Val1,2, Isabel Portillo Villares3
1Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute-Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
JAMA Network Open
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Organized fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) screening significantly reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality by 29.6% in Spain. The program showed particular success in individuals aged 50-69, with a 50.1% decline in CRC deaths.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global cause of cancer mortality.
- Organized screening programs utilizing fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) aim to reduce CRC deaths through early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between an organized FIT-based screening program and CRC-specific mortality.
- To evaluate the impact of screening on population-level CRC mortality trends.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, population-based cohort study in the Basque Country, Spain (2004-2024).
- Included 2.2 million inhabitants, with biennial FIT screening for ages 50-69 initiated in 2009.
- Analyzed age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs), segmented regression, and counterfactual analyses.
Main Results:
- Overall CRC mortality decreased by 29.6% (2004-2024).
- In the screened group (ages 50-69), CRC mortality dropped by 50.1%.
- Significant mortality reduction observed in older age groups (70+) and early-stage diagnoses (70.8% at stage I/II).
Conclusions:
- Organized FIT-based screening is associated with a sustained reduction in CRC mortality.
- The findings support the long-term public health benefits of FIT screening programs for reducing CRC mortality.
