Clinical Newswire, January 24, 2010 (Orlando, FL, USA) - A simple blood test to reliably detect colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal adenomas has been developed, according to research presented at the 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The test measures blood levels of the CD24 protein, a cell surface protein and P-selectin ligand, which is produced early in the process of CRC development and is involved in cell adhesion and metastasis.
According to study lead author Sarah Kraus, PhD (Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel), screening is effective for detection and prevention of early CRC, however many people are reluctant to undergo colonoscopy. “Most people, however, are willing to have a blood test."
Colonoscopy and stool testing for occult blood are currently the main tools for detecting CRC and adenomas, however colonoscopy is underutilized in the US, and the stool blood test has a low sensitivity.
Dr Kraus and her colleagues examined the sensitivity and specificity of the CD24 blood test in 150 patients undergoing colonoscopy. CD24 expression was evaluated in peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from blood samples. Among the patients analyzed, 63 had CRC, 19 had adenomas, and 68 had normal colonoscopies. The sensitivity of the CD24 test for detecting CRC was 92.3% (95% CI, 63.9-98.7), with similar specificity, and for detecting advanced adenomas the sensitivity was 84.2% (95% CI, 60.4-96.4%) and the specificity was 89.2% (95% CI, 74.6-96.9%).
The authors conclude that the CD24 blood test is the first of its kind to be able to detect adenomas, and can also be used to successfully distinguish CRC from healthy subjects. According to Dr Kraus, while larger studies are needed to validate the findings before the blood test can be used widely for CRC screening, “The CD24 blood test holds promise for identifying the patients at risk for colorectal cancer and could help guide the best use of colonoscopy resources.”
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