Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Molecular markers for colorectal cancer screening
  1. Brandon T Dickinson1,
  2. John Kisiel2,
  3. David A Ahlquist2,
  4. William M Grady1,3
  1. 1Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
  2. 2Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
  3. 3Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr William M Grady, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N., D4-100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; wgrady{at}fhcrc.org John Kisiel, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC), although a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, has seen a declining incidence and mortality in countries with programmatic screening. Faecal occult blood testing and endoscopic approaches are the predominant screening methods currently. The discovery of the adenoma–carcinoma sequence and a greater understanding of the genetic and epigenetic changes that drive the formation of CRC have contributed to innovative research to identify molecular markers for highly accurate, non-invasive screening tests for CRC. DNA, proteins, messenger RNA and micro-RNA have all been evaluated. The observation of tumour cell exfoliation into the mucocellular layer of the colonic epithelium and proven stability of DNA in a harsh stool environment make stool DNA a particularly promising marker. The development of a clinically useful stool DNA test has required numerous technical advances, including optimisation in DNA stabilisation, the development of assays with high analytical sensitivity, and the identification of specific and broadly informative molecular markers. A multitarget stool DNA test, which combines mutant and methylated DNA markers and a faecal immunochemical test, recently performed favourably in a large cross-sectional validation study and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the screening of asymptomatic, average-risk individuals. The ultimate way in which molecular marker screening assays will be used in clinical practice will require additional studies to determine optimal screening intervals, factors affecting compliance, management of false-positive results, and the use of these assays in high-risk populations, as well as other considerations.

  • COLONIC NEOPLASMS
  • COLORECTAL CANCER
  • COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
  • MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
  • MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.