The Colorectal Neoplasia Screening with Colonoscopy in Asymptomatic Women at Regional Navy/Army Medical Centers (CONCeRN) study is a multi-center study of asymptomatic women between the ages of 40 and 75 referred to regional military medical centers for routine colorectal screening. The primary purpose of the study is to determine the extent to which advanced neoplastic lesions will be missed if clinicians only perform sigmoidoscopies rather than full colonoscopies as a screening procedure and to resolve current debate about the significance of sigmoidoscopic detection of single, small, tubular adenomas. Women enrolled in the study receive colonoscopy during which all identified polyps are removed and also during which two pinch biopsies of apparently-normal tissue are taken. A NCI-led sub-study added a more extensive questionnaire to assess dietary and other lifestyle factors potentially related to colorectal cancer, and obtained additional blood for assessment of nutritional status and for analysis of genetic polymorphisms related to colorectal cancer. With the additional information, it will be possible to explore the extent to which various dietary and genetic risk factors are related to colorectal polyps in asymptomatic women of average risk for disease.
For more information, contact Rashmi Sinha.