Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and second most common in women, accounting for 10% of all tumors worldwide, whereas it is the second most common cause of death-related cancers. DIOPTRA aims to introduce a front-line screening tool that will consider risk factors and protein biomarkers for pinpointing individuals at high risk for CRC incidence. Tissue & blood samples will be examined towards a discriminative set of prognostic proteins that are detectable via standard bloodwork and can indicate a need for further evaluation (i.e. colonoscopy). Other data (e.g. medical, behavioural) will also be considered as potential risk factors. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be leveraged for assessing prognostic power, while personalised behavioural change will be promoted based on modifiable risk factors. Given the low citizen participation in CRC screening across the European Union, DIOPTRA seeks to broaden the evaluated population, boosting participation rates and bypassing age screening thresholds.
