A new approach to epigenome-wide discovery of non-invasive methylation biomarkers for colorectal cancer screening in circulating cell-free DNA using pooled samples.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, though detection at early stages associates with good prognosis. Thus, there is a clear demand for novel non-invasive tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer and premalignant advanced adenomas, to be used in population-wide screening programs. Aberrant DNA methylation detected in liquid biopsies, such as serum circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), is a promising source of non-invasive biomarkers.

Proteomic Profiling for Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Discovery.

Nowadays, the ideal biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been found. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS) are suitable techniques for searching new biomarkers. In this chapter, we describe methodology for biomarker discovery based on a proteomic approach.

Evaluation of serum nucleoside diphosphate kinase A for the detection of colorectal cancer.

We previously described the over-expression of nucleoside diphosphate kinase A (NDKA) in tumours and serum from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, suggesting its use as biomarker. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of serum NDKA to detect advanced neoplasia (CRC or advanced adenomas). Furthermore, the performance of NDKA was compared with the faecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 in colorectal cancer family-risk population screening.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is related to tumour development and progression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its utility as biomarker has been suggested. The aim of our study was to measure serum MMP-9 in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of CRC patients, and to analyse its diagnostic accuracy for the detection of advanced neoplasia (AN: advanced adenomas and CRC). Additionally, we compared its diagnostic capability with the most used non-invasive faecal immunochemical test (FIT).

Combined use of established and novel tumour markers in the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Serum SCC, CYFRA 21-1, and CEA are the common tumour markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), although diagnostic sensitivity should be yet improved, especially at early stages. In the present study, we have reported the diagnostic value of two novel serum tumour markers in HNSCC: alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) activity, and total sialic acid concentration adjusted by total protein concentration (TSA/TP). Using the cut-off 4.

Purification of human alpha-L-fucosidase precursor expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein.

Alpha-L-fucosidase (FUC) is a glycosidase involved in the degradation of fucose-containing glycoconjugates. A cDNA representing the complete sequence of human FUC was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-2T. High levels of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein were detected in Escherichia coli cells after induction with isopropyl thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside.