Colorectal Cancer Test Sensitivity Varies By Gender

A new study reveals that fecal immunochemical tests exhibit different performance metrics for men and women.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Cancer

Colorectal Cancer Test Sensitivity Varies By Gender

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Should medical tests be adjusted to provide the same level of accuracy for men and women?

Researchers have identified significant differences in how fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) detect colorectal cancer between genders. The study suggests that using sex-specific thresholds could optimize screening sensitivity.

Why it matters

Understanding gender-based differences in colorectal cancer prevalence and distribution is vital for improving screening accuracy. Tailoring testing benchmarks may help clinicians increase detection rates for both men and women.

A study of 30,165 participants showed FIT sensitivity for colorectal cancer was 77.4% for men versus 62.0% for women at a 100 ng/mL threshold. Male gender was independently associated with a 1.22 odds ratio for advanced neoplasia sensitivity.

The players

American College of Gastroenterology

The professional medical association hosted its annual scientific meeting in Nashville to discuss the latest advancements in digestive health.

The details

The analysis, which utilized data from the DeeP-C and BLUE-C clinical validation studies, found that men consistently demonstrate higher fecal hemoglobin levels. Researchers determined that adjusting specificity thresholds to 120 ng/mL for males and 94 ng/mL for females could help achieve a standardized 95 percent specificity across genders.

October 2026: Findings presented at the ACG 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Health Landscape

This research builds upon the data generated by the BLUE-C clinical validation study to isolate specific gender-based performance metrics. The findings shift the clinical perspective from a one-size-fits-all diagnostic approach toward gender-optimized screening standards.

Patients may see changes in how their doctors interpret home-based colorectal screening results if sex-specific thresholds are adopted. These adjustments could lead to more accurate diagnostic outcomes for men and women during routine cancer screenings.

The takeaway

Clinicians and patients should remain aware that diagnostic tests may perform differently based on biological sex. Future screening guidelines could prioritize personalized thresholds to ensure more reliable detection of advanced precancerous lesions.