Biomarkers correlate with colon cancer and risks: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
We previously reported that gene expression analysis of biopsies of normal-appearing large intestinal mucosa can distinguish individuals with colonic cancer and many individuals at risk for colon cancer from controls. The purpose of this study was to determine whether noninvasively removed rectal swabs can identify individuals with colon cancer or risk of colon cancer as effectively as we previously demonstrated using biopsies.


METHODS
Rectal mucosa cells were removed by rectal swabs, and their gene expression profiles were compared with those of biopsies removed by colonoscopy. Expression of 16 genes in the rectal mucosa of 12 individuals with colon cancer, 25 with polyps, 37 with family or self-reported cancer history, and 23 controls was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
We found similar results using rectal swabs and biopsies. Groups of individuals with or at risk for cancer showed an altered gene expression profile compared with controls. Moreover, each of the 12 cancer patients showed altered expression relative to the mean of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Gene expression analysis using rectal swabs may provide a convenient way to screen for colon cancer.
Lu
Shan
S
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California 94107, USA.
Chiu
Yanek S Y
YS
Smith
Andrew P
AP
Moore
Dan
D
Lee
Nancy M
NM
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor