Kit for the diagnosis and prediction of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer, ranking the third in the world in terms of number of annual deaths related to this type of disease. In addition, there are numerous evidences that relate the development of cancer with the probability of death due to behavioral and dietary risk factors.

DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms that influence in gene expression. In fact, abnormal methylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters is common in various types of cancer, so the use of DNA methylation as a biomarker in clinical oncology is a very promising tool, especially for the development of molecular markers, in diagnosis, prognosis and as new therapeutic targets.

The research group has discovered a gene that presents a differential methylation profile in colon tumor samples according to whether the patients have normal weight or present obesity, and these changes in methylation regulate their genetic expression. The research group suggests that the epigenetic regulation of this gene plays an important role in its function. Knowing the gene’s methylation profile will provide useful tools in the diagnosis and treatment of precision colon cancer. The expression of this gene can be used in the application to the development of a methylation kit to detect patients susceptible to develop colon cancer associated with obesity.
On the other hand, if colorectal cancer (CRC) is developed, the determination of the gene’s methylation profile, will allow the establishment of personalized therapy.

Ventajas

• It will provide a direct personalized tool for colon cancer treatment.
• Quick prediction in the susceptibility to colon cancer in patients with obesity through a simple methylation kit.
• It consists in an innovative and improved diagnosis of this disease, there are currently no alternative products on the market with these characteristics.