"Precancerous polyps" refers to abnormal growths in the body that have the potential to develop into cancer. These polyps are not cancerous yet, but if they are not removed, they could become cancerous over time. It is important to detect and remove these
precancerous polyps during medical examinations to prevent the development of cancer.
Full definition
Using animal models of
precancerous polyps in the bowel, Chung and his team determined that certain types of immune cells within a chronically inflamed intestine can become rewired, causing them — paradoxically — to contribute to disease development rather than protect against it.
But for the analysis to be done properly, the person has to send in samples of three consecutive bowel movements, and the tests do not
detect precancerous polyps.
In a step towards this goal, researchers from the BC Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia have identified differences in the blood of people
with precancerous polyps compared to people without such polyps.
Now Xiangwei Wu, a molecular biologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and his colleagues have found two compounds that
kill precancerous polyps in mice.
They do more than watch the camera, they are able to remove polyps — abnormal growths — both to
prevent precancerous polyps from becoming malignant and to examine the tissue for signs of cancer.
The screening for and removal of
precancerous polyps during colonoscopy is largely responsible for the decrease in incidence rates of colorectal cancer among Americans.
This new study demonstrated that the test can also be used to identify people
with precancerous polyps — a finding that makes it potentially more useful for a screening test, since it may be able to identify cancer risk before the disease actually develops.
Canadian researchers have found a way to screen blood samples for molecular traces that indicate the presence
of precancerous polyps in the colon, a key warning sign for colon cancer.
A blood test that could
detect precancerous polyps would be an improvement over other non-invasive colon cancer screening mechanisms currently available.
Flat adenomas are
precancerous polyps that do not have a typical polyp - like appearance during endoscopy.
«New blood test for colon cancer improves colonoscopy screening results: Optical raman spectra of blood shows simple fingerprint for cancerous growth and
precancerous polyps.»
He began investigating how immunologic activity in the intestine may contribute to the development of
precancerous polyps — or polyposis — within the bowel.
Now, due to regular colonoscopies and the removal of hundreds of
precancerous polyps every year, Johnson has been able to stay cancer - free.
When Amy turns 40, she begins colorectal cancer screening based on her higher - than - average risk factors, and at age 45
a precancerous polyp is detected in her colon and is successfully removed.
What role might the spice turmeric play in both the prevention of
precancerous polyps, and the treatment of colorectal cancer?