in Liquid Biopsy: The Diagnostic and Prognostic Promise for Colorectal Cancer and Adenomas?

INTRODUCTION

The development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multistep process accompanied by the accumulation of mutations that start from specific precancerous lesion - colorectal adenomas (CA). CRC incidence and mortality can be reduced by the early identification of these neoplasm. Colonoscopy is the most widely used screening method for CRC identification. Nowadays, clinical research interest is shifting to the use of liquid biopsy that may help with the early diagnosis of CA and CRC. In our previous study, we identified long non-coding RNA gene amplification associated with the development of CA.

METHODS

This study aimed to describe the potential of expression levels in the adenoma tissue of patients used in the previous study by real-time qPCR. Furthermore, we analysed the plasma samples of an independent group of patients with CA (n=97), CRC (n=101), and cancer-free individuals (CFI, n=48).

RESULTS

There was no difference in the expression level between CA patients with or without amplification. However, the plasma expression levels were significantly upregulated in patients with CRC and CA compared to CFI (for both p<0.001). Moreover, a correlation between expression and histological types of adenomas was identified- high-CRC-risk adenomas also displayed the highest expression levels. Furthermore, in CRC patients, levels were associated with a response to therapy.

CONCLUSION

expression levels could serve as a promising circulating biomarker for early CA and CRC diagnosis, and even as a predictor of therapy response in CRC patients.