Bangkok Genomics Innovation launches colorectal cancer test in Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Bangkok Genomics Innovation (BkkGI) has launched a non-invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) self-sampling test in Southeast Asia known as COLOTECT.

According to a BkkGI statement, the test can detect the methylation status of exfoliated cell genes in the intestine, help screen for colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous lesions risk, and detect bowel cancer risk even in the absence of active bleeding lesions.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common and the second deadliest globally with about 1.9 million diagnoses worldwide in 2020.

Some of the risk factors that can lead to it are aging, a history of bowel disease, a family history of related diseases, having type 2 diabetes, being overweight or obese, certain types of diet, smoking, and alchohol consumption.

In recent years, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer among young people has risen significantly.

As the tumour grows, patients may experience one or multiple symptoms, including blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and bloating, among others.

However, colorectal cancer usually does not show any symptoms in the early stages, which results in nearly 50 per cent of the condition being undetected until patients reach the third or fourth stage and miss the best time for treatment.

“A non-invasive, painless, convenient, and the best way to deal with colorectal cancer is to actively use COLOTECT and other screening methods to detect and treat colorectal cancer as early as possible,” it said.

-- BERNAMA