PSC-IBD Bowel Cancer Risk Study Shows Promising Findings
Research Update: PSC-IBD Bowel Cancer Risk Study Shows Promising Findings
Dr Chandni Radia
A new research update from a PSC Support-funded study is providing valuable insight into the risk of bowel cancer for people with PSC who also have inflammatory bowel disease (PSC-IBD). Dr Chandni Radia is conducting the study and has already presented early results at some prestigious medical research conferences.
The study is essential because PSC-IBD is a rare condition, which makes research into tailored surveillance guidelines difficult. Data has been gathered from over 600 people with PSC-IBD across seven hospitals in the UK providing Dr Radia with more than 3,500 colonoscopy records to review.
Initial findings suggest the long-term risk of bowel cancer for people with PSC may be lower than figures reported in previous historical studies. This new data will now be compared against a national database to ensure accuracy.
The analysis has also identified potential risk factors. Individuals who had poorly controlled inflammation in the colon over consecutive years, more frequent changes to advanced medications, and a history of pre-cancerous changes appeared to have a higher risk. These findings are similar to those seen in IBD-only patients.
Furthermore, the research indicates that using virtual electronic chromoendoscopy may be as effective as the traditional dye-spray technique for detecting pre-cancerous changes.
These results will help inform future national guidelines, aiming to improve the quality of care and potentially better tailor colonoscopy frequency for individuals with PSC-IBD.
Turning Ambition into Action in 2026:
Our Fortnight in Focus
At PSC Support, we want a world without PSC. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive research and improve lives. Here is a snapshot of what we've been up to:
Progressing Research: We supported a major research funding application to help secure the resources needed for high-quality studies into PSC treatments. This vital work ensures that promising scientific ideas have the backing they need to become the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Improving Care: We attended the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) Immune Special Interest Group meeting to stay at the forefront of clinical advances. By focusing on areas like transition care for young people, we ensure our future work is perfectly aligned with the evolving needs of the PSC community.
Progressing Research: We championed the use of new tools that help doctors better understand how PSC affects daily wellbeing. By focusing on these patient-reported outcomes, we are ensuring that future clinical trials measure the symptoms that matter most to our community.
Building Partnerships: We met with national regulators to ensure that patient symptoms are officially recognised when new medicines are being assessed. This advocacy is vital for making sure the patient voice directly influences whether new PSC treatments are approved for use.
Organisational Excellence: We explored how emerging technologies like AI can be used to spot liver changes earlier. Staying at the forefront of innovation supports our strategic goal to turn scientific discoveries into faster diagnoses and better treatments.
Improving Care: We worked with our helpline nurse to improve our helpline services and digital learning, ensuring every patient gets expert support when they need it.
Empowering our Community: We updated our website with the latest findings from our funded research programmes. By turning complex scientific breakthroughs into accessible information, we ensure you stay informed about the progress your donations are making possible.
Organisational Excellence: We analysed our social media reach to ensure our health information and research updates are reaching as many people as possible. This helps us grow our community and ensures that no one has to face a PSC diagnosis alone.