Circulating and stool nucleic acid analysis for colorectal cancer diagnosis.
1. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Jan 28;20(4):957-67. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.957.
Circulating and stool nucleic acid analysis for colorectal cancer diagnosis.
De Maio G(1), Rengucci C(1), Zoli W(1), Calistri D(1).
Author information:
(1)Giulia De Maio, Claudia Rengucci, Wainer Zoli, Daniele Calistri, Biosciences
Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori
IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli, 40-47014 Meldola, Italy.
In recent years, the need to identify molecular markers characterized by high
sensitivity and specificity in detecting and monitoring early and colorectal
cancer lesions has increased. Up to now, none of the markers or panels of markers
analyzed have met the rigorous standards required of a screening program. The
important discovery of circulating nucleic acids in biological fluids has aroused
intense scientific interest because of their usefulness in malignant and non
malignant diseases. Over time, their yield and stability have been identified and
compared with other « standard » biomarkers. The analysis of circulating DNA from
blood and stool is a relatively simple and non-invasive procedure, representing a
very attractive marker to detect genetic and epigenetic mutations and to monitor
disease progression. A correlation between blood and stool biomarkers could also
help to enhance currently available diagnostic approaches. However, various
processing and analytic problems need to be resolved before such an approach can
be applied in clinical practice.
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.957
PMID: 24574768 [Indexed for MEDLINE]