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. 2017 Nov 17;7(2):020405. doi: 10.7189/jogh.07.020405

Table 3.

Studies investigating strategies for prevention of colorectal cancer

Author(s), year Preventive measure/screening tool Country (region) Study design Study population Outcome(s) under study Results
Colonoscopy screening
Zheng et al., 1991 [59]
Rectoscopy (alone or in combination with fecal occult blood testing)
China (Jiashan)
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 26 171; Sex distribution: n.r.; Age: ≥30 y
Polyp detection rate;
Rectal cancer detection rate; Proportion of rectal cancers detected at an early stage
3% (899/26 171);
0.05% (15/26 171);
53% (8/15)
Zheng et al., 2002 [60]
Proctoscopy. Endoscopic follow–up of individuals with removed precursor lesions every 2–5 y
China (Haining)
Cohort study with external control group
Sample size: n = 4072; Sex distribution: 64% male; Age: range: 30–70 y; mean: 50 y
Standardized incidence ratio and standardized mortality ratio determined at 20 y follow–up
Rectal cancer
Standardized incidence ratio: 0.69;
Standardized mortality ratio: 0.82.
Colon cancer: no effect was observed.
Wan et al., 2002 [61]
Colonoscopy
China
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 2196 (74% were asymptomatic); Sex distribution: 94% male; Age: range: 60–90 y; average: 70 y
Polyp detection rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
62% (1364/2196);
2% (52/2196);
37% (19/52)
Croitoru et al., 2010 [62]
Colonoscopy
Romania (Suceava & Iasi)
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 102; (all asymptomatic and with at least one first–degree relative with CRC); Sex distribution: 57% male; Age: range: 36–72 y; mean: 52 y
Participation rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
47% (102/216);
2% (2/102);
50% (1/2)
Arafa et al., 2011 [63]
Colonoscopy
Jordan (Hashemite)
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 95 (symptomatic first degree relatives of CRC patients); Sex distribution: 61% male; Age: range: 40–75 y, mean: 53 y
Participation rate;
Polyp detection rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
62% (95/153);
11%(10/95)
2% (2/95);
100% (2/2)
Aswakul et al., 2012 [64]
Colonoscopy
Thailand
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 1594 (asymptomatic average and high risk individuals); Sex distribution: 45% male; Age: mean: 58 y
Adenoma detection rate;
Advanced adenoma detection rate;
CRC detection rate
16% (263/1954);
3% (43/1594);
0.6% (10/1594)
Ionescu et al., 2015 [65]
Colonoscopy
Romania (Bucharest)
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 1087 (average risk individuals); Sex distribution: 47% male; Age: range: 23–97 y, mean: 58 y
Adenoma detection rate;
Advanced adenoma detection rate;
CRC detection rate
13% (228/1807);
6% (110/1807);
3% (61/1807)
Panic et al., 2015 [66]
Colonoscopy
Montenegro
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 540 (first–degree relatives of CRC patients); Sex distribution: 41% male; Age: >40 y or 10 y before index case age
Participation rate;
Adenoma detection rate;
Advanced adenoma detection rate;
CRC detection rate
76% (540/710);
28% (151/540);
11% (58/540);
6% (31/540)
FIT
Montenegro
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 920 (average risk individuals); Sex distribution: 51% male; Age: range: 50–74 y
Participation rate;
Adenoma detection rate;
Advanced adenoma detection rate;
CRC detection rate
33% (920/2760);
3% (26/920);
2% (19/920);
1% (5/920)
Siripongpreeda et al., 2016 [67]
Colonoscopy
Thailand
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 1404 (average–risk); Sex distribution: 31% male; Age: mean: 57 y
Participation rate;
Adenoma detection rate;
Advanced adenoma detection rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
87% (1404/1612);
18% (256/1404);
7% (98/1404);
1% (18/1404);
89% (16/18)
Li et al.
2003 [68]
Sequential FOBT (guaiac FOBT followed by FIT)*
China
(Beijing)
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 19852; Sex distribution: 51% male; Age: mean: 50 y
Participation rate;
Positivity rate;
Polyp detection rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
74% (19852/26827)
3% (501/19852)
1% (188/19852)
0.06%(12/19852)
92% (11/12)
Li et al.
2006 [69]
Guaiac FOBT, FIT, sequential FOBT (comparative evaluation)*
China
(Beijing)
Cross–sectional diagnostic study
Sample size: n = 323 (patients referred for colonoscopy); Sex distribution: 57% male; Age: range: 18–68 y, mean: 53 y
Sensitivity and specificity of guaiac FOBT, FIT and sequential FOBT regarding CRC
Test Two–sample Three–sample
FIT
Guaiac FOBT
Sequential FOBT
FIT
Guaiac FOBT
Sequential FOBT
Sensitivity
88%
78%
76%
Specificity
96%
89%
99%
Specificity
96%
96%
94%
Specificity
89%
76%
94%
Fenocchi et al., 2006 [70]
FIT
Uruguay (Montevideo)
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 10 573 (average–risk); Sex distribution: 31% male; Age: mean: 61 y
Participation rate;
Positivity rate;
Proportion of test positives undergoing colonoscopic follow–up;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRCs detected at an early stage
90% (10 573/11 734);
11% (1,170/10 573);
75% (879/1170);
1% (101/10 573);
47%(47/101)
Yang et al., 2011 [71]
FIT
China (Shanghai)
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 5919; Sex distribution: 55% male; Age: mean: 55 y
Positivity rate;
Proportion of test positives undergoing FIT follow–up;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRC detected at an early stage;
Adenoma detection rate
5% (314/5919);
84% (264/314);
0.2% (16/5919);
94% (15/16);
1% (94/5919)
Khuhamprema et al., 2014 [72]
FIT
Thailand (Lampang)
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 127 301; Sex distribution: 46% male; Age: range: 50–65 y
Participation rate;
Positivity rate;
Proportion of test positives undergoing colonoscopic follow–up;
CRC detection rate; proportion of CRC detected at an early stage;
Adenoma detection rate
63% (80 012/127 301);
1% (873/80 012);
72% (627/873);
4% (23/627);
61% (14/23);
30% (187/627)
Dimova et al., 2015 [73]
FIT
Bulgaria
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 600 (average–risk); Sex distribution: 45% male; Age: mean: 61 y
Participation rate;
Positivity rate;
Proportion of test positives with information on colonoscopy;
CRC detection rate
79% (473/600);
8% (40/473);
75% (30/40);
0.6% (3/473)
Bankovic et al., 2016 [74]
FIT
Serbia
Screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 99 592; Sex distribution: n.r.; Age: range:50–74 y
Participation rate;
Positivity rate;
Proportion of test positives undergoing colonoscopic follow–up;
CRC detection rate;
Adenoma detection rate
62% (62252/99592);
6% (3690/62252);
42% (1554/3690);
8% (129/1554);
38% (586/1554)
Zheng et al., 2003 [75]
Step 1: Risk stratification based on clinical score combined with FIT result; Step 2: Flexible sigmoidoscopy
China (Jiashan)
Cluster–randomized screening pilot study
Sample size: n = 62 677 (average –risk); Sex distribution: 51% male; Age: ≥30 y
Positivity rate;
Polyp detection rate;
CRC detection rate;
Proportion of CRC detected at an early stage;
Mortality and incidence rate of CRC in the screening vs control group at 8 y follow–up
7% (4299/62677);
0.5% (331/62677);
0.03% (21/62677);
71% (15/21)
Mortality rate:
208/100 000 (95% CI 196–218/100 000) (screening group)
244/100 000 (95% CI 233–255/100 000) (control group)
Incidence rate:
395/100 000 (95% CI 381–410/100 000) (screening group)
401/100 000 (95% CI 386–411/100 000) (control group)
Aniwan et al., 2015 [76] Step 1: Risk stratification based on clinical score combined with FIT result; Step 2: Colonoscopy Thailand (Bankok) Cross–sectional diagnostic study Sample size: n = 948 (average risk); Sex distribution: 35% male; Age: range: 50–75 y, mean: 61 y Polyp and CRC detection rate Category
Non–advanced neoplasia
Advanced neoplasia
CRC
High risk score and positive FIT (n = 84)
44%
37%
5%
High risk score and negative FIT (n = 173)
30%
12%
1%
Moderate risk score and positive FIT (n = 192)
27%
12%
2%
Moderate risk score and negative FIT (n = 499) 23%
6%
0%

CRC – colorectal cancer, FIT – fecal immunochemical testing for hemoglobin, FOBT – fecal occult blood testing, n – number, n.r. – not reported, y – year

*Sequential FOBT was called a sequential method that combined guaiac FOBT and FIT, ie, guaiac FOBT was performed first and FIT was only performed if the guaiac FOBT was positive. The result was interpreted as positive if both tests were positive.