Abstract IA16: Current and emerging molecular diagnostic assays for colorectal cancer

Introduction: In the last 20 years, advances in our understanding of the molecular genetics and epigenetics of colorectal cancer (CRC) have led to the discovery and assessment of a large number of cancer specific molecular alterations as biomarkers for CRC. The majority of these biomarkers have not evolved into clinical assays for a variety of reasons, but a small number of them are currently in use in the clinic and a larger number of emerging biomarkers are under active investigation for their use in early detection, prognosis and prediction for treatment response.Early detection assays: 1. Stool-based biomarkers: Since the initial discovery of mutant KRAS in fecal specimens from patients with CRC(1), numerous studies have assessed stool DNA biomarkers for early CRC detection. Biomarkers assessed to date include mutant genes, methylated genes, microRNAs, and mRNA. Methylated DNA and mutant DNA biomarkers are now in the clinic.A large number of Phase I and II biomarker studies have identified stool-based methylation biomarkers for early CRC detection.(2) Studies of methylated SFRP2, SFRP5, PGR, CALCA, and IGFBP2, in fecal DNA identified methylated SFRP2 as a diagnostic biomarker for CRC detection with high sensitivity (77-90%) and specificity (77%).(3) A second study of stool DNA markers among subjects with colorectal adenomas demonstrated that methylated SFRP2 can also identify patients with precancerous colonic polyps.(4) Another well-studied fecal DNA biomarker for CRC de...
Source: Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Molecular Diagnostics Source Type: research