A simplified, noninvasive stool DNA test for colorectal cancer detection.
BACKGROUND
As a noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test, a multi-marker first generation stool DNA (sDNA V 1.0) test is superior to guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests. An improved sDNA assay (version 2), utilizing only two markers, hypermethylated vimentin gene (hV) and a two site DNA integrity assay (DY), demonstrated in a training set (phase 1a) an even higher sensitivity (88%) for CRC with a specificity of 82%.


OBJECTIVE
To validate in an independent set of patients (phase 1b) the sensitivity and specificity of sDNA version 2 for CRC.


METHODS
Forty-two patients with CRC and 241 subjects with normal colonoscopy (NC) provided stool samples, to which they immediately added DNA stabilizing buffer, and mailed their specimen to the laboratory. DNA was purified using gel-based capture, and analyzed for hV and DY using methods identical to those previously published.


RESULTS
Using the same cutpoints as the 1a training set (N = 162; 40 CRCs, 122 normals), hV demonstrated a higher and DY a slightly lower sensitivity, for a combined sensitivity of hV + DY of 86%. Optimal cutpoints based on the combined phase 1a + 1b dataset (N = 445; 82 CRCs, 363 normals) yielded a CRC sensitivity of 83%. The vast majority of cancers were detected regardless of tumor stage, tumor location, or patient age. Assay specificity in the phase 1b dataset for hV, DY, and hV + DY was 82%, 85%, and 73%, respectively, using the phase 1a cutpoints. Optimal cutpoints based on the combined phase 1a + 1b dataset yield a specificity of 82%.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides validation of a simplified, improved sDNA test that incorporates only two markers and that demonstrates high sensitivity (83%) and specificity (82%) for CRC. Test performance is highly reproducible in a large set of patients. The use of only two markers will make the test easier to perform, reduce the cost, and facilitate distribution to local laboratories.
Itzkowitz
Steven
S
Department of Medicine and Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Brand
Randall
R
Jandorf
Lina
L
Durkee
Kris
K
Millholland
John
J
Rabeneck
Linda
L
Schroy
Paul C
PC
Sontag
Stephen
S
Johnson
David
D
Markowitz
Sanford
S
Paszat
Lawrence
L
Berger
Barry M
BM