title: A novel method for screening colorectal cancer by infrared spectroscopy of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce mortality and morbidity. Current screening methods include colonoscopy and stool tests, but a simple low-cost blood test would increase compliance. This preliminary study assessed the utility of analyzing the entire bio-molecular profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for early detection of CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were prospectively collected from 62 candidates for CRC screening/diagnostic colonoscopy or surgery for colonic neoplasia. PBMCs and plasma were separated by Ficoll gradient, dried on zinc selenide slides, and placed under a FTIR microscope. FTIR spectra were analyzed for biomarkers and classified by principal component and discriminant analyses. Findings were compared among diagnostic groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes in multiple bands that can serve as CRC biomarkers were observed in PBMCs (p = ~0.01) and plasma (p = ~0.0001) spectra. There were minor but statistically significant differences in both blood components between healthy individuals and patients with benign polyps. Following multivariate analysis, the healthy individuals could be well distinguished from patients with CRC, and the patients with benign polyps were mostly distributed as a distinct subgroup within the overlap region. Leave-one-out cross-validation for evaluating method performance yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.77, with sensitivity 81.5% and specificity 71.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Joint analysis of the biochemical profile of two blood components rather than a single biomarker is a promising strategy for early detection of CRC. Additional studies are required to validate our preliminary clinical results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barlev
authors.affiliation: Todos Medical Ltd, 1 HaMada St, 76703, Rehovot, Israel. udi@todosmedical.com.
authors.forename: Udi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zelig
authors.affiliation: Todos Medical Ltd, 1 HaMada St, 76703, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Omri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.affiliation: Todos Medical Ltd, 1 HaMada St, 76703, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Cheli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mordechai
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.|Faculty of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapelushnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.|Institute of Hematology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: Todos Medical Ltd, 1 HaMada St, 76703, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Flomen
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Hanoch
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kashtan
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Osnat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Madhala-Givon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wasserberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cancer detection; Colorectal cancer; Infrared spectroscopy; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Plasma