ASGE has joined the Colorectal Cancer Care Initiative (CRCCI), which is a multi-stakeholder effort that was designed by Fight Colorectal Cancer! (Fight CRC) to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, diagnosis and treatment in significant ways.

 “ASGE applauds Fight CRC for its vision and leadership, and we are both proud and excited to be a part of this diverse coalition – which includes cancer survivors, caregivers, physicians and allied healthcare professionals, researchers and industry leaders.” says Jennifer Christie, MD, MASGE, ASGE’s immediate past president and the chair of ASGE’s CRC Screening Project. “Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the US combined, so this program is important and it has the real potential to save a significant number of lives.”

 On November 20, CRCCI distributed its Colorectal Cancer Care Report, which Fight CRC explains “leverages real-world data, scientific research and patient experiences to establish ambitious goals that serve as a roadmap for action. These bold targets are designed to help stakeholders assess progress and guide strategies that will significantly improve prevention, diagnosis, and care nationwide. Supporting these goals means committing to tangible action that will transform outcomes for millions.”

 CRCCI is promoting several bold goals, including: 

• Achieving an 80% CRC screening rate for average-risk patients.

   

• Ensuring that 80% of patients who have a positive or abnormal non-invasive CRC screening test (i.e., fecal occult blood, immunochemical or DNA) result receive a follow-up colonoscopy within 90 days.

• Ensuring that 80% of patients who have CRC start treatment within six weeks of their diagnosis.

   

• Ensuring that 80% of patients who are diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 CRC receive biomarker testing to help determine the best treatment plan.

   

• Ensuring that 80% of CRC patients undergo genetic testing (germline at diagnosis, somatic at advanced stages) to identify mutated genes that can increase the risk of developing CRC.

 “Fight CRC knows that using real-world data and setting bold, actionable goals can change the game in colorectal cancer care and save lives,” says Fight CRC President Anjee Davis. “This report emphasizes the importance of providing timely screening, diagnosis and treatment. These are critical steps that we must take to reduce the burden of CRC and create meaningful change for patients and their families.”

 Davis stresses that, “This report is more than an analysis; it is a data-driven action plan that is designed to equip healthcare professionals, data scientists and policymakers with essential tools to meet these aspirational public health goals. The report urges all partners to take action, leverage data and collaborate effectively to improve patient care and outcomes.”

 The CRCCI report highlights ASGE’s CRC Screening Project, which is designed to increase the follow-up colonoscopy rate for underserved people who have an abnormal stool-based CRC screening test result. It includes developmental projects in Georgia and Maryland that are screening hundreds of patients for CRC using a stool-based DNA test.

 ASGE’s project is also aimed at reducing the amount of time it takes for patients who have an abnormal stool-based CRC test result to get a follow-up colonoscopy, which needs to take place in less than 10 months given the higher risk of CRC and advanced stage disease.  

 ASGE will use the results of the development projects in Georgia and Maryland to develop a playbook and public policy models that can be used to increase CRC screening and follow-up colonoscopy rates in other states. 

 The Colorectal Cancer Care Report was developed with unrestricted funding and in-kind contributions. Fight CRC says, “It was reviewed by a diverse group of stakeholders to ensure its evidence-based, patient-centered recommendations reflect the best available data.” The review team included two of the members of the ASGE CRC Screening Project Advisory Council, including Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS and Folasade May, MD, PhD, MPhil.

 ASGE’s project is mainly funded by an unrestricted grant from Exact Sciences, with additional support from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and Sebela Pharmaceuticals’ Braintree Laboratories affiliate. 

 Visit FightCRC.org and ASGE.org/CRC for additional information on the Colorectal Cancer Care Initiative and ASGE’s CRC Screening Project.