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Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 5, 199–209 (1 March 2005) | doi:10.1038/nrc1569

Colorectal cancer screening: prospects for molecular stool analysis

R. Justin Davies , Richard Miller & Nicholas Coleman

Colorectal cancer is common. As many patients present with advanced disease, an effective screening test would have substantial clinical benefits. Recent progress in understanding the biology of colorectal cancer (and of cancer cells in general) has led to possible new approaches to screening. In particular, there are prospects of developing tests based on analysis of stool, which promise improved accuracy, safety, affordability and patient compliance.