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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2014; 20(27): 8928-8938
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8928
Molecular biomarkers for the detection of metastatic colorectal cancer cells
Hidenori Kamiyama, Hiroshi Noda, Fumio Konishi, Toshiki Rikiyama
Hidenori Kamiyama, Hiroshi Noda, Fumio Konishi, Toshiki Rikiyama, Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama 330-8503, Japan
Hidenori Kamiyama, Department of Surgery, Chichibu Municipal Hospital, Saitama 368-0025, Japan
Author contributions: Kamiyama H and Noda H contributed to the article design, writing, and revision; Konishi F and Rikiyama T contributed to sample collection and provided advice concerning the study; all authors have approved the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Hiroshi Noda, MD, Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, 1-847 Amanuma-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama 330-8503, Japan. noda164@hotmail.co.jp
Telephone: +81-48-6472111 Fax: +81-48-6485188
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: January 29, 2014
Accepted: April 1, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Processing time: 297 Days and 14.4 Hours
Abstract

Approximately half of all patients with colorectal cancer develop local recurrence or distant metastasis during the course of their illness. Recently, the molecular detection of metastatic cancer cells in various types of clinical samples, such as lymph nodes, bone marrow, peripheral blood, and peritoneal lavage fluid, has been investigated as a potential prognostic marker. The prognostic value of molecular tumor cell detection was independent of the type of detection method used. As assays become more sensitive and quantitative, a more thorough assessment of the cancer status of patients will be based on molecular markers alone. At present, it is difficult to conclude that one specific molecular marker is superior to others. Comparative analyses are recommended to assess the prognostic impact of molecular analyses in the same patient and determine the biomarkers that provide the most accurate prognostic information.

Keywords: Molecular biomarker; Metastatic colorectal cancer cell; Circulating tumor cell; Disseminated tumor cell; Peritoneal lavage fluid; Colorectal cancer

Core tip: We focus on methods of the detection of molecular changes in metastatic colorectal cancer cells, and describe the characteristics for the methods, such as DNA methylation, mRNA, microRNA, immunomagnetic separation, protein and cancer-associated mutations. Moreover, we review the clinical significance according to the type of samples, such as blood, lymph node, bone marrow and peritoneal lavage fluid. At present, it is difficult to conclude that one specific molecular marker is superior to others. Comparative analyses are recommended to assess the prognostic impact of molecular analyses in the same patient and determine the biomarkers that provide the most accurate prognostic information.