title: Highly sensitive stool DNA testing of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a marker for detection of colorectal tumours in a Japanese population.
abstract: Background Accumulating evidence shows an over-abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal tumour tissues. Although stool DNA testing of Fusobacterium nucleatum might be a potential marker for the detection of colorectal tumours, the difficulty in detecting Fusobacterium nucleatum in stool by conventional methods prevented further explorations. Therefore, we developed a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting Fusobacterium nucleatum in stool and investigated its clinical utility in the management of colorectal tumours in a Japanese population. Methods Feces were collected from 60 healthy subjects (control group) and from 11 patients with colorectal non-advanced adenomas (non-advanced adenoma group), 19 patients with colorectal advanced adenoma/carcinoma in situ (advanced adenoma/carcinoma in situ (CIS) group) and 158 patients with colorectal cancer of stages I to IV (colorectal cancer group). Absolute copy numbers of Fusobacterium nucleatum were measured by droplet digital PCR. Results The median copy number of Fusobacterium nucleatum was 17.5 in the control group, 311 in the non-advanced adenoma group, 122 in the advanced adenoma/CIS group, and 317 in the colorectal cancer group. In comparison with that in the control group, the Fusobacterium nucleatum level was significantly higher in the non-advanced adenoma group, the advanced adenoma/CIS group and the colorectal cancer group. Conclusions This study illustrates the potential of stool DNA testing of Fusobacterium nucleatum by droplet digital PCR to detect individuals with colorectal tumours in a Japanese population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouhei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Laboratory, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Gastroenterology, Sentohiru Hospital, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shindo
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazama
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Laboratory, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakaida
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012372:ROC Curve
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Colorectal cancer; DNA test; Fusobacterium nucleatum; droplet digital PCR; stool