Published online Mar 28, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i12.2159
Peer-review started: February 17, 2017
First decision: February 28, 2017
Revised: March 10, 2017
Accepted: March 17, 2017
Article in press: March 17, 2017
Published online: March 28, 2017
Processing time: 39 Days and 1.6 Hours
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3) for the early detection of colorectal cancer (CC).
Serum TFF3 and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were detected in 527 individuals, including 115 healthy control (HC), 198 colorectal adenoma (CA), and 214 CC individuals in the training group.
Serum TFF3 showed no significant correlation with age, gender, or tumor location but showed significant correlation with the tumor stage. Serum TFF3 in the CC group was significantly higher than in the HC or CA group. The AUC values of TFF3 for discriminating between HC and CC and between CA and CC were 0.930 (0.903, 0.958) and 0.834 (0.796, 0.873). A multivariate model combining TFF3 and CEA was built. Compared to TFF3 or CEA alone, the multivariate model showed significant improvement (P < 0.001). For discriminating between HC and CC, HC and early stage CC, HC and advanced stage CC, CA and CC, CA and early stage CC, and CA and advanced stage CC in the training group, the sensitivities were 92.99%, 91.46%, 93.18%, 73.83%, 76.83%, and 81.82%, and the specificities were 91.30%, 91.30%, 93.91%, 88.38%, 77.27%, and 88.38%, respectively. After validation, the sensitivities were 89.39%, 85.71%, 90.79%, 72.73%, 71.43%, and 78.95%, and the specificities were 87.85%, 87.85%, 2.52%, 87.85%, 80.77%, and 87.50%, respectively.
The multivariate diagnostic model that included TFF3 and CEA showed significant improvement over the conventional biomarker CEA and might provide a potential method for the early detection of CC.
Core tip: Serum level of trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3) was used for evaluation the diagnostic value of for the early detection of colorectal cancer (CC). A multivariate model combining TFF3 and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) was built. Compared to TFF3 or CEA alone, the multivariate model showed significant improvement. The multivariate diagnostic model that included TFF3 and CEA showed significant improvement over the conventional biomarker CEA and might provide a potential method for the early detection of CC.