Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess if the combination of CD26 and alpha-L-fucosidase has a role in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, paying particular attention to the stages in which the tumour is not yet disseminated. CD26 concentration and alpha-L-fucosidase activity were determined in sera from 110 colorectal cancer patients and 46 donors. The combination of CD26 and alpha-L-fucosidase showed a specificity of 100% with a sensitivity of 64% in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Interestingly, the combination of both markers had a sensitivity of 75% in the stage I at the highest specificity (100%), providing also high sensitivity levels for the other non-disseminated stages (66% for stages II and III). In conclusion, the combined use of CD26 and alpha-L-fucosidase offers high sensitivity with high specificity in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, especially at the earliest stage (TNM I).
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) still represents the second most frequent cause of cancer death in Western countries [1], despite that it is a carcinoma with higher expectations of survival when diagnosed at early stages
We have previously described the diagnostic value of two novel serum tumour markers: the soluble glycoprotein CD26 and the alpha-L-fucosidase enzyme (EC 3.2.1.51) [11, 12]
Soluble CD26 concentration and AFU activity was determined in 46 sera from healthy donors and 110 sera from CRC patients
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) still represents the second most frequent cause of cancer death in Western countries [1], despite that it is a carcinoma with higher expectations of survival when diagnosed at early stages. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the most commonly used serum tumour marker for CRC, but it is not recommended as screening or diagnostic test for this neoplasm, especially in the early stages [3,4,5,6]. At this time, the recommended screening methods for CRC are the faecal occult blood test (FOBT) and the sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy with associated polypectomy [7,8].
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