Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2014; 20(17): 4972-4979
Published online May 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i17.4972
Patient perceptions of stool DNA testing for pan-digestive cancer screening: A survey questionnaire
Dennis Yang, Shauna L Hillman, Ann M Harris, Pamela S Sinicrope, Mary E Devens, David A Ahlquist
Dennis Yang, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
Shauna L Hillman, Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
Ann M Harris, Pamela S Sinicrope, Survey Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
Mary E Devens, David A Ahlquist, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
Author contributions: Hillman SL performed the statistical analysis; Harris AM, Sinicrope PS were involved in the design of the study and survey questionnaire; Yang D performed the literature search and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; Ahlquist DA provided the study concept, obtained funding support, and contributed critical appraisal of the manuscript; all authors were involved with the acquisition of data, analysis, interpretation, and critical revision of the final manuscript.
Supported by Research grant from the Oswald Foundation
Correspondence to: David A Ahlquist, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States. ahlquist.david@mayo.edu
Telephone: +1-507-2664338 Fax: +1-507-2660350
Received: August 18, 2013
Revised: October 24, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: May 7, 2014
Processing time: 262 Days and 7.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The value of stool DNA testing could be expanded beyond colorectal cancer screening by simultaneously targeting gastrointestinal cancers above the colon. Early data suggest technical feasibility for such pan-cancer detection. However, while multi-organ stool DNA testing (MUST) would seem intuitively to have broad appeal; patient perceptions have not been evaluated. In this exploratory study, we demonstrate that patients were interested in using MUST if it was available to them. The potential unique ability to detect multiple cancers was its most distinguishing and attractive feature. General population surveys are warranted to corroborate these early findings.