Aging better with CF: Improving early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in adults with cystic fibrosis

Project Duration – 2 years

Dr Elena Schneider-Futschik from The University of Melbourne is working on a project that aims to improve early detection of colorectal cancer in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Thanks to advances in treatment, people with CF are living longer, but new health challenges – like a markedly increased risk in the change of developing colorectal cancer – are emerging. One of the top research priorities identified by CF patients and clinicians is how to improve health for adults with CF who now live longer.

This project will use yearly blood tests to look for early signs of colorectal cancer, including known cancer markers and advanced protein analyses to discover new CF-specific markers. The team will validate these findings with artificial intelligence. The goal is to improve early detection, reduce the need for invasive procedures, and guide better care for people with CF as they age.

Project aims:

• Identify early biomarkers of colorectal cancer in people with CF
• Validate biomarkers using artificial intelligence to detect CF-specific colorectal cancer markers.

Why is improved early detection of colorectal cancer needed?

As people with CF live longer thanks to advances in treatment, new health challenges are emerging. One of the most urgent is colorectal cancer (CRC), which occurs 5–10 times more frequently in adults with CF than in the general population and often develops earlier and progresses faster. Current screening relies on colonoscopy, which is invasive, resource-intensive, and not suitable for all patients, especially those who are immunosuppressed or have other medical complexities.

This project is needed to develop safer, less invasive, and more accessible screening methods tailored to the CF population. By validating existing biomarkers, identifying new early markers, and applying artificial intelligence to analyse samples, the research team aims to detect CRC earlier, reduce the need for invasive procedures, and improve patient outcomes. Early detection and treatment could enhance quality of life, reduce healthcare burdens, and ensure that gains in CF survival are not offset by rising cancer-related risks. Ultimately, this project lays the groundwork for personalised CRC screening strategies, helping clinicians target prevention and treatment more effectively in adults with CF.

What is unique about this project?

This project employs a unique combination of non-invasive biomarker testing, advanced sample analysis, and artificial intelligence to detect colorectal cancer (CRC) early in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Unlike standard screening approaches such as colonoscopy, this study uses blood and stool samples to identify CF-specific early warning signs of CRC, making testing safer and more accessible, especially for older or medically complex patients.

The project also leverages a large, well characterised biobank and integrates clinical data to uncover patterns linked to early CRC. A custom model using artificial intelligence trained on biomedical literature and CF-specific data will further enhance biomarker discovery and risk prediction. This combination of CF-specific biology, AI-driven analysis, and proteomic approaches has never been applied in this way and positions the project to develop personalised, precision screening strategies that could transform how colorectal cancer is detected and managed in the aging CF population.

How will this research be translated into clinical care?

The next steps involve validating the biomarker in larger, independent patient cohorts to confirm its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. This will be followed by integrating it into prospective screening or risk-stratification studies.

About Dr Elena Schneider-Futschik

Dr Elena Schneider-Futschik is a specialist in CF. As a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Fellow, she leads the cystic fibrosis pharmacology research program across the department “Biochemistry & Pharmacology” at the University of Melbourne aiming to optimise currently available treatments. She has received multiple awards and research support from both public and philanthropic organisations including the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Australian CF Trust, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the NHMRC.