Saudi CRC Early Detection (PROCSA)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer among Saudi men and the second among women. Its burden continues to rise, largely because many patients are diagnosed at late stages. Traditional colonoscopy screening is underutilized, creating an urgent need for simple, non-invasive, and population-specific diagnostics.

Our team previously identified a 17-gene blood test that achieved 99% accuracy in diagnosing CRC across more than 800 international patients. However, this panel has never been tested in Saudi patients, and no Saudi-specific molecular markers currently exist, hence limiting progress toward precision medicine in this high-priority disease. Using state-of-the-art multi-omics technologies and artificial intelligence, the PROCSA project will:

1. Validate the existing 17-gene CRC panel in Saudi patients.

2. Discover novel blood- and plasma-based biomarkers unique to Saudi populations.

3. Apply AI-driven models to predict risk, guide early detection, and improve patient outcomes.

4. Explore key local risk factors such as obesity, vitamin D deficiency, and lifestyle.

5. Build the Saudi Colorectal Cancer Omics Atlas (SCORCA), the CRC database integrating molecular, clinical, and epidemiological data.

PROCSA will deliver a validated, non-invasive blood test for early CRC detection in Saudi patients, alongside new biomarker panels and AI tools to personalize care. This signature can be detected in peripheral blood samples, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective tool for diagnosis and monitoring. It supports clinicians in identifying high-risk patients at diagnosis and tailoring treatment, while sparing low-risk patients from unnecessary therapies. By advancing precision oncology and building national research infrastructure, this project supports Saudi Vision 2030’s health innovation goals and aims to significantly reduce the country’s cancer burden (Project submitted to Saudi NIH for funding).