Steroids and cancer: faecal bile acid screening for early detection of cancer risk.

The analyses of faecal bile acids in colorectal cancer patients, breast cancer patients and healthy control subjects is described. Faecal excretion of total bile acids was similar in the three groups. The major bile acids detected were lithocholic acid (LCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) and the proportions of these (LCA:DCA ratio) were diametrically opposed in the colorectal cancer patients (1.91 +/- 0.33) and control subjects (0.90 +/- 0.09). Patients with adenocarcinoma of the breast also exhibited a higher LCA:DCA ratio (1.24 +/- 0.10) than the control group. The faecal LCA:DCA ratio is an important marker of cancer risk especially cancer of the large bowel and it is suggested that it may be a useful adjunct to future screening procedures.