[The molecular screening of the stool for the colorectal carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
Current screening methods of colorectal carcinoma are based on examination of occult bleeding in the stool, and further on endoscopic and irrigographical (barium enema) examinations. Population-based non-invasive screening method having high sensitivity and specificity is needed.


METHODS
Detection of molecular alterations in colonocytes from the stool may be a promising new diagnostic tool for such screening. Determination of mutations in APC, K-ras, DCC, p53 genes and "long" DNA may serve for early detection of colorectal cancer from stool samples. Multi-target DNA-assays employing all these markers suggest high sensitivity and specificity, unfortunately also expensiveness. Therefore finding a marker characteristic for all tumor cells would be desirable. Nuclear faktor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) could be such marker suitable for determination in colonocytes shed into the stool.


CONCLUSIONS
Molecular testing of stool for early detection of colorectal cancer may be a promising screening method for this disease. Large multicenter trials are required to validate results obtained from preliminary clinical studies.
Voboril
R
R
Chirurgická klinika, 3. LF UK a FNKV Praha. rene.voboril@seznam.cz
Weberová
J
J
Dvorák
J
J
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000166:cytology*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
D015415:Biomarkers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm