This randomized controlled trial is designed to determine whether screening for occult blood in the stool will reduce mortality from colorectal cancer. When the study began in 1975, a cohort of 45,000 individuals between 50 and 80 years of age, residing in the state of Minnesota, with no prior history of colorectal cancer was randomized into three groups by age, sex, and geographic region of the state. Test groups submit Hemoccult slides annually or every other year; the control group does not submit slides. Participants whose slides are positive are evaluated at the University of Minnesota Hospitals using the specified diagnostic protocol. All participants are asked to complete a short annual questionnaire concerning their health status. The study is monitored by an advisory group with expertise in statistics, epidemiology and gastroenterology. The study will continue until a significant difference in mortality is observed between screened and control groups or until it is clear that no significant difference will emerge.
| Shaukat, Aasma; Mongin, Steven J; Geisser, Mindy S et al. (2013) Long-term mortality after screening for colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 369:1106-14 |
| Doria-Rose, V Paul; Marcus, Pamela M; Miller, Anthony B et al. (2010) Does the source of death information affect cancer screening efficacy results? A study of the use of mortality review versus death certificates in four randomized trials. Clin Trials 7:69-77 |
| Mandel, J S; Church, T R; Bond, J H et al. (2000) The effect of fecal occult-blood screening on the incidence of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 343:1603-7 |
| Thomas, W; White, C M; Mah, J et al. (1995) Longitudinal compliance with annual screening for fecal occult blood. Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study. Am J Epidemiol 142:176-82 |
| Mandel, J S; Bond, J H; Church, T R et al. (1993) Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood. Minnesota Colon Cancer Control Study. N Engl J Med 328:1365-71 |
