Serum micro-RNA Identifies Early Stage Colorectal Cancer in a Multi-Ethnic Population.

Jessica Shiosaki,Kazuhiro Sakamoto,Junji Machi,Scott Kuwada,Makoto Takahashi,Karolina Peplowska,Kuniaki Kojima,Michio Machida,David Shaeffer,Maarit Tiirikainen,Peter Bryant-Greenwood

doi:10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.10.3019

Abstract

Objective:Certain microRNAs (miR) have been previously described to be dysregulated in cancers and can be detected in blood samples. Studies examining the utility of miRs for colon cancer screening have primarily been performed in ethnically homogeneous groups of patients, thus the performance of miRs in multiethnic populations is unknown. Methods:Four miRs were selected that were shown to be aberrantly expressed in the blood or stool of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) of various ethnicities. In this study, the ability of these miRs to discern early stage CRC was determined in a previously untested multiethnic population of 73 CRC cases and 18 controls. Results:The ratios of non-vesicular to extracellular vesicular levels of miR’s -21, -29a, and -92a were statistically and quantitatively related to CRC stage compared to controls. Conclusion:Serum levels of miR-21, miR-29a and miR-92a were able to significantly detect early stage CRC in a multiethnic and previously untested population.

Highlights

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in developed countries where the incidence is highest
We examined of previously identified miRs that were aberrantly expressed in CRC compared with controls (Ng et al, 2009; Huang et al, 2010b; Pu et al, 2010a; Luo et al, 2013; Ahmed et al, 2012; Huang et al, 2010a; Liu et al, 2013; Pu et al, 2010b)
These discovery studies utilized a strategy in which CRC tissue specimens were first used to find miRs that were aberrantly expressed compared with normal colon tissue, and to see which of these miRs was aberrantly expressed in the blood from the same patients

Summary

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in developed countries where the incidence is highest. Fecal occult blood testing reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer but suffers from poor sensitivity for CRC detection (Mandel et al, 1993). Fecal DNA testing and immunochemical detection of hemoglobin offer improved sensitivity for CRC than heme oxidase-based stool tests but have yet to demonstrate a reduction in CRC mortality. CEA, a protein marker in the blood, is currently used for monitoring CRC patient therapy, but is not recommended for screening as it is rarely elevated in early stages of CRC and cannot differentiate between benign and malignant polyps (Lech et al, 2016). An effective screening strategy capable of detecting asymptomatic and early stage CRC that has high acceptance and availability remains elusive

Methods

Results

Conclusion