Researchers, clinicians, patient advocates and public health experts came together this week for the first PREDI-ROUNDS meeting, a new discussion format within the PREDI-LYNCH project designed to turn research into dialogue and action. The session focused on upcoming work that aim to improve cancer surveillance for people living with Lynch syndrome, the most common inherited cancer predisposition syndrome.
Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition that significantly increases the risk of several cancers, particularly colorectal, endometrial (uterine) and urothelial cancers. Today, many people with Lynch syndrome undergo regular colonoscopies and other invasive procedures to detect cancer at an early stage. While effective, these methods can be uncomfortable, time-consuming and sometimes difficult for patients to access consistently.
During the session, project partners presented two major clinical trials that will investigate whether less invasive approaches can provide the same level of safety and effectiveness as current surveillance methods. The main PREDI-LYNCH trial will evaluate whether extending colonoscopy intervals, supported by annual “liquid biopsies”, can detect cancers just as effectively while reducing the number of invasive procedures. A liquid biopsy is a test that searches for cancer-related signals in body fluids such as blood or urine, rather than requiring tissue samples or surgical procedures.
A second study, PREDI-ENDO, focused on endometrial cancer surveillance, will examine whether novel non-invasive tests including vaginal swabs, urine samples and blood samples can help detect cancer earlier and potentially reduce the need for repeated endometrial biopsies. There is currently no universally accepted surveillance pathway for endometrial cancer in Lynch syndrome, making new evidence particularly important.
A recurring theme that PREDI-LYNCH always wants to highlight throughout is quality of life. Patient representatives are involved to maintain the tight bond between clinicians and patients. As PREDI-LYNCH emphasizes the use of less invasive or non-invasive testing and how that could reduce anxiety, minimise time away from work and make screening more accessible for people who currently avoid surveillance because of discomfort or inconvenience. Home-based sample collection kits in particular are a potentially important step towards increasing participation and improving long-term adherence to screening programmes.
The panel went on to discuss the challenges of translating research findings into healthcare practice. In addition to proving scientific effectiveness, new approaches will need to demonstrate patient acceptability, cost-effectiveness and reliable performance across different healthcare systems before they can influence clinical guidelines and reimbursement decisions. Public health experts involved in PREDI-LYNCH noted that innovations that improve patient experience while maintaining diagnostic accuracy are the goal then looking at future widespread adoption.
PREDI-ROUNDS I concluded with a strong consensus that future cancer surveillance should focus not only on preventing disease, but also on improving the lives of people living with inherited cancer risk. If successful, the PREDI-LYNCH clinical trials could help establish more personalised, less invasive and more accessible approaches to cancer prevention and early detection across Europe.