Hui Li1, Zhenzhen Wang2,3, Guodong Zhao4,5, Yong Ma3, Ying Chen2, Qi Xue6, Minxue Zheng3, Sujuan Fei1. 1. 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Jiangsu, China. 2. 2 School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Jiangsu, China. 3. 3 Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou Jiangsu, China. 4. 4 Zhejiang University Kunshan Biotechnology Laboratory, Zhejiang University Kunshan Innovation Institute, Kunshan Jiangsu, China. 5. 5 VersaBio Technologies Co. Ltd., Kunshan Jiangsu, China. 6. 6 Department of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan Hebei, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the five most common cancers in China, and its incidence is steadily increasing. An accurate and non-invasive screening method is needed to increase the population uptake of colorectal cancer screening. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 ( SFRP2) has been found to be hypermethylated in most colorectal cancer patients, and it may fulfill the role of a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: Methylation status of SFRP2 was examined in 17 cancer tissues and paired adjacent paracancer tissues by a new SFRP2 MethyLight assay, which was also used to test the serum of 62 patients with colorectal cancer and 55 normal individuals. RESULTS: The limit of detection of the SFRP2 MethyLight assay was about 200 pg per reaction. The SFRP2 methylation level was higher in 94.1% colorectal cancer tissues than in paired adjacent paracancer tissues ( P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of SFRP2 for detecting colorectal cancer in serum were 69.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56.2, 80.1%) and 87.3% (95% CI 74.9, 94.3%), respectively. CONCLUSION: SFRP2 methylation in serum has the potential to be a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer screening.
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the five most common cancers in China, and its incidence is steadily increasing. An accurate and non-invasive screening method is needed to increase the population uptake of colorectal cancer screening. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 ( SFRP2) has been found to be hypermethylated in most colorectal cancer patients, and it may fulfill the role of a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: Methylation status of SFRP2 was examined in 17 cancer tissues and paired adjacent paracancer tissues by a new SFRP2 MethyLight assay, which was also used to test the serum of 62 patients with colorectal cancer and 55 normal individuals. RESULTS: The limit of detection of the SFRP2 MethyLight assay was about 200 pg per reaction. The SFRP2 methylation level was higher in 94.1% colorectal cancer tissues than in paired adjacent paracancer tissues ( P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of SFRP2 for detecting colorectal cancer in serum were 69.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56.2, 80.1%) and 87.3% (95% CI 74.9, 94.3%), respectively. CONCLUSION: SFRP2 methylation in serum has the potential to be a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer screening.