NordICC study launched

On June 8, a landmark study on the prevention of colorectal cancer, The Nordic European Initiative on Colorectal Cancer (NordICC) is launched.

NordICC is a multinational, large-scale randomised trial to evaluate the effect of colonoscopy screening on incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death from cancer in the Western world. Colonoscopy screening, though advocated by some European countries and the United States, has never been investigated in proper scientific studies. It is unknown if colonoscopy screening has any significant effect on the incidence and mortality of CRC, and if any, how large it is.

NordICC is the first randomised trial to investigate the effect of colonoscopy on CRC incidence and mortality. The NordICC groups comprise world-leading experts in the fields of gastroenterology, oncology, medical screening, epidemiology and biostatistics who have committed themselves to this cutting-edge research project that has the potential to open up new horizons and opportunities for research on the highest possible level for many years to come.

The aim of the trial is to finally address the efficacy of colonoscopy screening. It will thus open for the establishment of evidence-based guidelines for CRC screening in Europe and the world, to be able to tailor our efforts to prevent CRC in the general population

The NordICC will include participants from Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Hungary, Latvia and the Czech  Republic are currently observers and may join the study at a later time.

We are hereby announcing that the first participant will be enrolled in the trial and examined on June 8th, 2009 in Warsaw, Poland. During the next three years, 24,000 individuals will be invited to a colonoscopy screening examination.