Stool DNA testing in combination with fecal immunochemical test for hemoglobin for detection of colorectal neoplasia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03563
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Suehiro Yutaka 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (40290978)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山崎 隆弘 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (00304478)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 早期がん診断

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As hypermethylation of TWIST1 is specific to colorectal neoplasia, detection of the methylated TWIST1 from feces might be useful for colorectal neoplasia screening. However, because the content of human DNA in feces is very small, it is very difficult to detect methylated TWIST1 by conventional bisulfite-based methylation assays. Therefore, we developed a new methylation assay without bisulfite treatment, the combined restriction digital PCR assay (CORD assay). Combination of the fecal CORD assay of methylated TWIST1 with fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for hemoglobin improved a sensitivity for colorectal tumors, especially for flat-type advanced adenoma that are difficult to detect by FIT alone.

Free Research Field

臨床検査学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回開発した高感度メチル化解析法CORD assayは、酵素を加えるのみでよく、その後のDNA精製が不要で、酵素反応液をそのままPCR反応液に添加できるため、非常に単純な作業工程である。この技術を用いれば、便、血清、血漿など、種々の検体から、様々な癌のスクリーニング検査に応用できると思われる。CORD assayは臨床検査のツールとして大きな潜在力を秘めている。