Methylation changes in faecal DNA: a marker for colorectal cancer screening?
DNA methylation is a common molecular alteration in colorectal cancer cells. We report an assessment of faecal DNA from patients with colorectal cancer and controls to determine the feasibility, sensitivity, and specificity of this approach. By use of MethyLight analysis of faecal DNA from three independent sets of patients, we identified SFRP2 methylation as a sensitive single DNA-based marker for identification of colorectal cancer in stool samples (sensitivity 90% [CI 56-100] and specificity 77% [46-95] in the training set [n=23]; sensitivity 77% [46-95] and specificity 77% [46-95] in an independent test set [n=26]). Whether a combination of genetic and epigenetic markers will identify colorectal cancer at an early stage remains to be shown.
Müller
Hannes M
HM
Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Oberwalder
Michael
M
Fiegl
Heidi
H
Morandell
Maria
M
Goebel
Georg
G
Zitt
Matthias
M
Mühlthaler
Markus
M
Ofner
Dietmar
D
Margreiter
Raimund
R
Widschwendter
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C109618:SFRP2 protein, human; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins