Dear AuntMinnie Insider,
What a difference two months make. While virtual colonoscopy researchers have been in data-gathering mode for years as they sought to demonstrate VC's feasibility for widespread colon cancer screening, movement on the U.S. screening front has been on hold pending the release of that same data.
Then in September came a peek at the ACRIN 6664 trial, with preliminary results unveiled to a small audience in Arlington, VA. Although publication of peer-reviewed results are still pending, the early findings made it clear that training and attention to technique are enough to keep VC's sensitivity high across multiple screening centers.
A few days later, a group from the University of Wisconsin followed up with a landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine comparing two large screening cohorts, one that underwent VC and the other optical colonoscopy. Advanced adenomas were detected at comparable rates in both modalities in about 6,000 subjects.
At last month's International Symposium of Virtual Colonoscopy in Boston, Italian researchers unveiled the results of a screening trial of higher-risk subjects that showed good sensitivity despite a lack of uniformity in technique and scanners.
On the business side, contrast developer Bracco of Princeton, NJ, signed an agreement to acquire contrast and VC developer E-Z-EM of Lake Success, NY, in a deal estimated at $241 million.
Last, but certainly not least, we present the closely watched Munich Colorectal Cancer Prevention Trial results in this issue's Insider Exclusive -- brought to you before our other AuntMinnie.com members, and the rest of the world for that matter, can read it.
Will VC be included in this year's updated American Cancer Society screening guidelines? There were winks and nods and hints but no assurances at the Boston symposium. Stay tuned to your newly redesigned Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community for exclusive VC news when you need it most.
