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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2007; 13(6): 950-954
Published online Feb 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i6.950
Detection of aberrant methylation in fecal DNA as a molecular screening tool for colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions
Zhao-Hui Huang, Li-Hua Li, Fan Yang, Jin-Fu Wang
Zhao-Hui Huang, Li-Hua Li, Fan Yang, Oncology Institute of Wuxi, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu Province, China
Jin-Fu Wang, College of life sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grant from Scientific and Technologic Bureau of Wuxi, No. CS055010
Correspondence to: Zhao-Hui Huang, Oncology Institute of Wuxi, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 200 Huihe Road, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu Province, China. hzhwxsy@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-510-88683506 Fax: +86-510-88683507
Received: December 14, 2006
Revised: December 28, 2006
Accepted: January 6, 2007
Published online: February 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of detecting methylated fecal DNA as a screening tool for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and precancerous lesions.

METHODS: Methylated secreted frizzled-related protein gene 2 (SFRP2), hyperplastic polyposis protein gene (HPP1) and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene (MGMT) in stools from 52 patients with CRC, 35 patients with benign colorectal diseases and 24 normal individuals were analyzed using methylation-specific PCR.

RESULTS: Methylated SFRP2, HPP1 and MGMT were detected in 94.2%, 71.2%, 48.1% of CRC patients and 52.4%, 57.1%, 28.6% of adenoma patients, respectively. The overall prevalence of fecal DNA with at least one methylated gene was 96.2% and 81.8% in patients with CRC and precancerous lesions, respectively. In contrast, only one of the 24 normal individuals revealed methylated DNA. These results indicated a 93.7% sensitivity and a 77.1% specificity of the assay for detecting CRC and precancerous lesions.

CONCLUSION: Methylation testing of fecal DNA using a panel of epigenetic markers may be a simple and promising non-invasive screening method for CRC and precancerous lesions.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Methylation; Feces; Secreted frizzled-related protein gene 2; Hyperplastic polyposis protein gene; Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene