P32. Buccal cells as a surrogate DNA source for methylation biomarkers to identify those at increased colorectal cancer risk

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes are an opportunity to alter the survival of patients with early CRC. Cells from the alimentary tract can be obtained from the mouth and large bowel. If biomarkers of CRC risk could be identified in buccal cells, such assays could be more convenient and acceptable than those requiring rectal biopsies. One potential CRC risk biomarker is methylation of the WNT-related gene encoding the...