KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to assess gene expression dysregulation in rectal swab specimens of patients with CRC for non-invasive screening potential.
- Researchers concluded that the 4-gene panel in rectal swab samples serves as a promising non-invasive biomarker.
The dysregulation of gene expression is one of the key molecular features of colorectal cancer (CRC) development.
Lui Ng and the team aimed to investigate whether such dysregulation is reflected in rectal swab specimens of patients with CRC and to evaluate its potential as a non-invasive approach for screening.
They performed an inclusive analysis by comparing the expression level of 14 CRC-associated genes in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue of patients with CRC. They examined the correlation of gene expression levels between tissue samples and paired rectal swab specimens. The study further compared the expression levels of these 14 genes in rectal swab specimens among patients with CRC or polyps and control subjects. The diagnostic potential of each dysregulated gene and the gene panel was evaluated for CRC screening.
In the study, the expression of CXCR2, SAA, COX1, PPARδ, PPARγ, Groγ, IL8, p21, c-myc, CD44, and CSF1 was significantly elevated in CRC tissues. Significant correlations in gene levels were observed between CRC tissues and rectal swab specimens. CD44, IL8, CXCR2, and c-myc levels were found to be significantly higher in rectal swab specimens of CRC patients in both the training and validation studies.
A 4-gene panel comprising CD44, IL8, CXCR2, and c-myc showed promise in identifying CRC patients, with an AUC of 0.83. For polyps and precancerous adenomas, the AUC values were 0.6522 and 0.7322, respectively, indicating moderate discriminatory ability. The panel demonstrated sensitivities of 63.6%, 76.9%, and 88.9% for identifying polyps, precancerous adenomas, and CRC patients, respectively, with a specificity of 72.2% for normal subjects.
The study concluded that CRC-associated gene expression in rectal swab specimens mirrors colorectal tissue dysregulation. The identified 4-gene panel shows promise as a non-invasive biomarker for early screening of precancerous adenomas and CRC.
The study received no funds.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38891062/
Ng L, Wong SK, Li HS, et al. (2024). “A Four-Gene Panel in Rectal Swab Samples as a Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Screening.” Cells. 2024 May 28;13(11):930. doi: 10.3390/cells13110930. PMID: 38891062; PMCID: PMC11171518.
