Colon cancer-specific antigen-2 may be used as a detecting and prognostic marker in colorectal cancer: a preliminary observation.
BACKGROUND
A specific and sensitive serum marker for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection and surveillance is central to effective treatment. It was preliminarily reported that some nuclear matrix proteins may be served as a specific blood based marker for colon cancer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of serum CCSA-2 detection in diagnosis, prognostic estimation and surveillance for CRC.


METHODS
Serum CCSA-2 protein was measured in 181 various patient populations and 20 healthy donors before surgery. For 106 CRC patients, it was also measured on day 7 after surgery. Among them, 49 CRC patients' CCSA-2 protein were measured during the follow-up period according to NCCN Guideline.


RESULTS
The serum CCSA-2 concentration in CRC patients was significantly higher than which in other patients and healthy individuals. Serum CCSA-2, at the cut-off point of 64.10 ng/mL, had a sensitivity of 98.10% and a specificity of 97.90% in separating CRC populations from all other individuals. The CCSA-2 assay was significantly more sensitive than CEA and CA19-9 assay in CRC detection. After surgery, the serum CCSA-2 level of CRC patients declined significantly, but it rebounded to a high level when recurrences occurred. The pre-operative serum CCSA-2 level in patients who had a relapse within the follow-up period was significantly higher than which in patients without relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum CCSA-2 not only may be a potential biomarker using in screening and surveillance of CRC, but also may be an independent prognostic marker for CRC patients. Further clinical trials need to be performed in a larger population of patients to ulteriorly confirm these results.
Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Gang
G
Xue
Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Xiaojuan
X
Wang
Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Yong
Y
Yang
Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Degui
D
Liu
Department of Endocrinology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Ying
Y
Cheng
Department of General Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Jun
J
Zhou
Department of General Surgery, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, P.R. China.
Yongkuan
Y
Cao
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C528639:colon cancer-specific antigen 2, human