Adults younger than 45 whose routine blood work showed low levels of two liver enzymes were more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer within a year of their first screening test, according to an Epic Research analysis released Sept. 9. An AST below 14 U/L was linked to a 65% higher likelihood of diagnosis, and an ALT below 14 U/L to a 68% higher likelihood, compared with values between 14 and 29 U/L.
The finding is an association drawn from electronic health records, and it has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. It does not show that low enzyme levels cause cancer, and doctors interviewed about the analysis said it does not change who should be screened.
