Scientists have developed a highly accurate, non-invasive stool test that analyzes gut microbiota to detect colorectal cancer, with an accuracy of around 90%, comparable to colonoscopy.

This innovative method uses machine learning and advanced sequencing to analyze bacterial subspecies, providing detailed insights into microbial functions related to cancer.

The microbial signature identified includes about a dozen bacterial species, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Parvimonas micra, which are elevated in colorectal cancer patients and could serve as biomarkers.

The test's high accuracy surpasses current non-invasive screening options, potentially reducing the need for invasive colonoscopies and reserving them for confirmation of positive results.

Researchers are planning clinical trials with Geneva University Hospitals to refine the method's ability to determine cancer stages and detect lesions, aiming for earlier diagnosis and less invasive procedures.

Beyond colorectal cancer, this microbiome analysis technique has promising applications in diagnosing other diseases and understanding how gut bacteria influence overall human health.

The approach could inform future microbiome-targeted therapies and help guide clinical decisions based on microbiome-based diagnostics that assess disease severity.

The research addresses the global challenge of late-stage colorectal cancer diagnosis, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, especially among younger adults.

The new method's ability to accurately predict cancer from stool samples could revolutionize screening practices, making them more accessible and less invasive.

The study's success is attributed to the use of machine learning and high-resolution sequencing, which enable strain-level analysis and improve reproducibility across diverse populations.

Further validation through clinical trials is essential to confirm the utility of this microbial signature for broad population screening, considering complex interactions between microbiome, genetics, and environment.

This breakthrough is part of broader efforts, including the European ONCOBIOME project and the Cancer Grand Challenges PROSPECT initiative, to understand microbiome roles in early-onset colorectal cancer and improve therapies.