S534 Multitarget Stool DNA Testing Uptake and Outcomes in an Urban Academic-Community Setting
Introduction: The multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) has been approved for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening based on its diagnostic performance characteristics. However, limited data exist on the continuum of implementing mt-sDNA testing in clinical practice, from test completion, positivity rate, referrals for diagnostic colonoscopy (COL), detection of advanced neoplasia (AN) to longitudinal adherence to repeat screening. We described these outcomes for patients undergoing mt-sDNA testing in an urban healthcare system. Methods: We reviewed patients aged 50-75 with a mt-sDNA test ordered at 16 outpatient sites in a Tucson, AZ healthcare system from 9/9/2017 to 12/31/2021. We collected data on demographics, insurance, CRC screening history, and ordering provider specialty for patients completing testing. Outcomes included test completion, positivity rate, COL referral/completion, AN detection, and rescreening within 40 months of a negative index test. Adjusted logistic regression identified factors linked to rescreening. We limited the rescreening analysis to patients aged 50-72 at initial testing. Results: 689 (35.8%) of 1,923 patients completed mt-sDNA testing (median age 62 years, 59.5% female, 77.4% White, 14.8% Hispanic or Latino). The median time to test completion was 22 days (IQR 14-38). Insurance included 37.9% private, 41.1% Medicare/Medicare Advantage, and 14.7% Medicaid. Family physicians ordered 65.2% of tests. 32.1% of patients had undergone prior CRC screening. 78 (11.3%) patients tested positive, 573 (83.1%) tested negative, and 38 (5.5%) had an indeterminate result. 74 (94.5%) patients testing positive were referred for COL and 52 (62.3%) completed COL. 21 (40.4%) patients had an AN, including 3 with CRC. 474 of 573 patients testing negative were eligible for 3-year rescreening. By 40-month follow-up, 164 (34.6%) were rescreened: 125 (26.4%) with mt-sDNA, 38 (8.0%) with COL, and 1 (0.2%) with fecal immunohistochemical testing. Only previous CRC screening was linked to improved 40-month rescreening (aOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.01-2.45, P = 0.044). Conclusion: Screening uptake with mt-sDNA was low: 35.8% of patients completed the index test, 62.3% completed COL following a positive test, and 34.6% of eligible patients underwent rescreening within 40 months. Previous screening was associated with 40-month rescreening. These findings raise concerns about the utility of mt-sDNA based-CRC screening programs in clinical practice and warrant further investigation.
Authors
- Richard M. Hoffman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4714-7726)
- Ferdous Hossain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0444-7320)
- Joseph Gunderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6091-171X)
- Gloria D. Coronado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1130-6542)
- Franklin Liu
- Samuel H. Cheong
- Katherine Mendoza
- Alisia C. Gunderson
Publication Details
- Journal
- The American Journal of Gastroenterology
- Published
- 2025-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0001129596.09851.cc
- Primary Topic
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00