Candidate Molecular Biomarkers for the Non- Invasive Detection of Colorectal Cancer using Gene Expression Profiling

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer after prostate (breast in women) and lung cancer; it is also the third cause of cancer deaths reported in both men and women in 2020. Currently, the most commonly used diagnostic tools for CRC are colonoscopy, serological methods, and other imaging techniques. Despite the benefits and abilities of these methods, each of them has disadvantages that reduce its functionality and acceptance. The aim of this study was identifying specific and non-invasive genetic biomarkers to diagnose colorectal cancer.

In this study, changes in the expression of HLTF and SEPT9 genes were evaluated by Real Time PCR in blood and tissue samples of CRC patients. A total of 100 samples (50 Blood and 50 Tissue samples) were evaluated with a definite diagnosis of CRC in Firoozgar Hspital, Tehran, Iran, in 2018. The QPCR method was used to compare the expression of candidate genes between the patients group and control group in both samples. Sensitivity and specificity of the test were examined using ROC curve analysis.

The results showed a significant down-regulation in the expression of both selected genes in tissue and peripheral blood in the various stages of the CRC. The sensitivity and specifity of both genes was about 80%.

The findings showed that the two candidate genes can be suggested as specific biomarkers for diagnosis of CRC using the peripheral blood as a non-invasive method. For a definite conclusion, more research is needed.