Colorectal cancer tumor markers

The other well-known member of this superfamily is CEA or carcinoem-bryonic antigen. CEA is a widely used tumor marker, especially for monitoring patients with diagnosed colorectal cancer (M5). It is a high-molecular-weight (Afr 200,000, approximately) glycoprotein containing about 60% carbohydrate. In normal colonic cells and in well-differentiated colon carcinomas, the distribution of CEA is apical. However, in undifferentiated colonic tumors, CEA is present on all of the cell membrane (J3). Whether this altered subcellular localization of CEA mediates cancer spread is presently unclear. 

As with c-erbB, overexpression of the suppressor p53 gene product has been found in different cancers (H3). Initially, it was believed that the detection of p53 protein in tumors meant the presence of a mutant gene product. However, we now know that normal p53 protein can be overexpressed in response to certain stimuli and stabilized by interaction with both cellular and viral proteins (H3). Irrespective of the mechanism giving rise to elevated protein levels, overexpression of p53 has been shown to be a prognostic marker in both breast and colorectal cancers (D8). In some studies, the presence of high levels of p53 has been shown to be a prognostic marker in axillary node-negative breast cancer patients (H3). 

Zlobec I, Terracciano L, Jass JR, Lugli A. Value of staining intensity in the interpretation of immunohistochemistry for tumor markers in colorectal cancer. Virchows zlrc/z.2007 451 763-9. 

Update of Recommendations for the Use of Tumor Markers in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol 2001 19 1865-1878. 

Schott, A., Vogel, I., Krueger, U., Kalthoff, H., Schreiber, H. W., Schmiegel, W., etal.. Isolated tumor cells are frequently detectable in the peritoneal cavity of gastric and colorectal cancer patients and serve as a new prognostic marker. Arm. Surg. Ill, 372-379 (1998). 

Schuster, R., Max, N., Mann, B., Heufelder, K., Thilo, F., Grone, J., etal.. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR for detection of disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer using different mRNA markers. Int. J. Cancer 108, 219-227 (2004). 

MUCl-peptide (tumor marker for breast, stomach, lung, prostate, colorectal, and other cancers)... 

Colorectal cancer Evidence unavailable. 1 RCT reported an adverse effect on the colon following isoflavone-rich soy protein supplementation. Animal studies inconsistent—some show an increase in tumors and markers of carcinogenesis, whereas others show a reduction. Evidence insufficient but cause for concern relating to colonic epithelial proliferation following isoflavones. 

One of the features that makes urinary DiAcSpm a particularly attractive candidate for use as a tumor marker is that the DiAcSpm level is more frequently elevated in patients in the early stages of colorectal and breast cancer compared to other tumor markers (Hiramatsu et al. 2005 Umemori et al. 2010 Nakayama et al. 2012). For instance, the level of DiAcSpm in the urine is higher than normal in 60 % of early colorectal cancers (i.e., those that are still restricted to the mucosal layers), whereas carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is elevated in only 10 % of these patients (Hiramatsu et al. 2005). A tumor marker that facilitates the detection of cancer at early clinical stages is valuable because it enables timely treatment. Importantly, more than 90 % of patients with stage 0 and I colorectal cancer may be cured of disease with proper treatment. 

Nakayama Y, Torigoe T, Minagawa N, Yamaguchi K (2012) The clinical usefulness of urinary iV A -diacetylspermine (DiAcSpm) levels as a tumor marker in patients with colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett 2 970-974... 

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