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Colon or bowel cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the UK, disproportionately affecting people over the age of 60. Globally, it is the third most common type of cancer with the World Cancer Research Fund estimating about 1.8 million new cases in 2018 alone. Colon cancer is also the fourth most common cause of death from cancer but chances of survival greatly increase the earlier it is diagnosed – and scientists have just made a major breakthrough in that process.
Teams of scientists in India have paired with researchers in France to develop a novel technique for diagnosing colon cancer at the earliest stages.
Their technique, which utilises single strands of RNA molecules (microRNA) has the potential to detect colon cancer as early as stage one.
The breakthrough could mark a critical step towards saving tens or even hundreds of thousands of lives.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund, the five-year survival rate for colon cancer is about 90 percent when diagnosed at an early stage.
For comparison, late-stage colon cancer only has a survival rate of about 13 percent.
The new study was led by Dr Sagar Sengupta of the National Institute of Immunology in India.
According to the scientist, the new technique has the potential to diagnose colon cancer as easily as diabetes through a quick blood sample analysis.
The technique also has the benefit of not being as invasive as the standard diagnostic methods presently used.
These include CT colonography, which uses a low dose radiation CT scan to peer inside of the colon.
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The second method, immunohistochemistry, analyses a tissue sample to check for certain antigens or markers that could indicate the presence of cancer.
The new study used microRNAs which can fuse to messenger RNA molecules that code for proteins, either activating or destroying them.
The researchers discovered six microRNAs that are upregulated in colon cancer cells, dubbing them “DNA damage sensitive microRNAs” or DDSM.
The six microRNAs were found to target a specific group of cellular proteins that are used to maintain the original state of the genetic material in the body’s cells.
Experiments on lab mice found cells are more likely to multiply into cancers if there is an overexpression of the microRNAs.
The researchers then tested their findings against datasets in the Cancer Genome Atlas and a group of cancer patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
They found the DDSMs are upregulated even in stage one colon cancer tissues, all the way through to stage four cancer.
In essence, the researchers believe they are on the cusp of detecting early-stage cancer, provided the DDSMs can be detected in patients’ blood samples.
Dr Sengupta told India Science Wire: “We believe that the identified DDSMs can serve as an invaluable biomarker for colon cancer early detection process.
“We now have to determine whether the DDSMs can also be detected in patient blood samples.
“If that is possible, it would make colon cancer detection as simple as the detection of blood sugar in diabetic patients.”
The cause of colon cancer is unknown but there are many factors that can increase your risk.
Smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise and a diet high in red and processed meat are considered risk factors.
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