Colorectal cancer screening: Flexible sigmoidoscopy expert panel 1st supplement to 2nd watching brief (2011)

Review the SCORE trial results about flexible sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in this 2011 supplement to the second watching brief

This document provides results from the follow-up findings of the SCORE trial and is an addendum to the second watching brief on flexible sigmoidoscopy. This document gives information that can be used by provincial cancer agencies to put the trial results in context.

The first watching brief examined the results of colorectal cancer deaths from the NORCCAP trial, published in June 2009. The second watching brief examined the results of colorectal cancer deaths from the UK FS trial, published in April 2010.

New evidence from the SCORE trial supports one-time flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer in average-risk individuals aged 55 to 64 years. This study reported colorectal cancer rates and number of deaths based on both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

In the intention-to-treat analysis, colorectal cancer rates and number of deaths were reduced by 18 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. The reduced number of colorectal cancer deaths was not statistically significant.

However, in the per-protocol analysis, colorectal cancer rates and number of deaths were significantly reduced by 31 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.

These results, together with those of the UK FS trial highlight the need to consider the role of flexible sigmoidoscopy in organized colorectal screening programs in Canada.

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