Novel Blood-Based Biomarker Candidates in Screening for Colorectal Cancer
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Blood-based biomarkers could be an alternative method to increase compliance in population-based screening programs for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to identify blood-based biomarkers that can identify patients with early-stage asymptomatic CRC for use in national screening programs. Materials and methods In a nested cohort of 1,982 participants with a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT, with >100 ng Hemoglobin/mL) from the Danish CRC screening program, serum levels of 18 blood-based biomarkers (including GDF-15, hepsin, IL-8, keratin 1/10, L1CAM, MIA, MCP-1, NSE, OPG, AFP, CD44, CATD, TWEAK, YKL-40, CEA, midkine, osteonectin and ferritin) were measured. Biomarkers associated to CRC after adjusting for various possible confounders were combined with age and sex in a predictive multivariable model for CRC. Results Complete biomarker and clinical data were collected from 1,959 subjects, including 237 (12.1%) with CRC and 623 (31.8%) with advanced adenomas. IL-8 was unaffected by confounders, increased across the adenoma-carcinoma progression, and associated to CRC (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.59-2.11, p < 0.01) even when restricting analyses to early-stage CRC (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.15-.1.73, p<0.01). Combining IL-8, OPG, CEA, ferritin, and age resulted in an AUC of 0.717 (0.682-0.751) for discriminating subjects with and without CRC. Conclusion Application of blood-based biomarker panels consisting of colorectal neoplasia-associated proteins seem to be potential predictors for early detection of CRC. Especially IL-8 could have a significant impact on future screening models, though further testing in true screening cohorts is needed. Micro Abstract We aimed to identify blood-based biomarkers that can identify patients with early-stage asymptomatic colorectal cancer (CRC) to be used as an alternative method to increase compliance in population-based CRC screening programs. We investigated the serum levels of 18 blood-based biomarkers in a nested cohort of CRC screening participants. IL-8 was the most promising blood-based biomarker investigated, as it was unaffected by age and sex, increased across the adenoma-carcinoma progression, and associated to CRC even when restricting analyses to early-stage CRC. IL-8 could have a significant impact on future screening models where it in combination with other strong predictors such as molecular, demographic, or clinical data may contribute to a superior screening tool than fecal-based testing.
Source: Clinical Colorectal Cancer
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,690
Funders: Kornerup Fonden, Dagmar Marshalls Fond, Arvid Nilssons Fond, Toyota Foundation, Axel Muusfeldts Fond, Vissing Fonden, Aase og Ejnar Danielsens Fond, Augustinus Fonden, Dansk Kræftforsknings Fond, Eva og Henry Frænkels Mindefond, Det Obelske Familiefond, Torben og Alice Frimodts Fond, Thora og Viggo Groves Mindelegat, Hans og Nora Buchards Fond, Købmand Sven Hansen og Hustru Ina Hansens Fond, Gangstedfonden, Kathrine og Vigo Skovgaard's Fond, Læge Sophus Carl Emil Friis og hustru Olga Doris Friis' Legat, Beckett-Fonden, Henrik Henriksens Fond, Civilingeniør Walter Christensen og hustru O. Kristiane Christensens Fond, KV Fonden, Minister Erna Hamiltons Legat for Videnskab og Kunst, Poul Martin Christiansen og hustrus Fond, Poul og Ellen Hertz’s Fond, Elna og Jørgen Fagerholt Pedersens Kræftforsknings-fond, Knud og Edith Eriksens Mindefond
OpenAlex ID: W4415748117