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A novel method for screening colorectal cancer by infrared spectroscopy of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma

  • Original Article—Alimentary Tract
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Abstract

Background

Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce mortality and morbidity. Current screening methods include colonoscopy and stool tests, but a simple low-cost blood test would increase compliance. This preliminary study assessed the utility of analyzing the entire bio-molecular profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for early detection of CRC.

Methods

Blood samples were prospectively collected from 62 candidates for CRC screening/diagnostic colonoscopy or surgery for colonic neoplasia. PBMCs and plasma were separated by Ficoll gradient, dried on zinc selenide slides, and placed under a FTIR microscope. FTIR spectra were analyzed for biomarkers and classified by principal component and discriminant analyses. Findings were compared among diagnostic groups.

Results

Significant changes in multiple bands that can serve as CRC biomarkers were observed in PBMCs (p = ~0.01) and plasma (p = ~0.0001) spectra. There were minor but statistically significant differences in both blood components between healthy individuals and patients with benign polyps. Following multivariate analysis, the healthy individuals could be well distinguished from patients with CRC, and the patients with benign polyps were mostly distributed as a distinct subgroup within the overlap region. Leave-one-out cross-validation for evaluating method performance yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.77, with sensitivity 81.5 % and specificity 71.4 %.

Conclusions

Joint analysis of the biochemical profile of two blood components rather than a single biomarker is a promising strategy for early detection of CRC. Additional studies are required to validate our preliminary clinical results.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

Area under the curve

CA:

Cancer antigen

CEA:

Carcinoembryonic antigen

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

FLDA:

Fisher linear discriminant analysis

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared

PBMCs:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PCA:

Principal component analysis

QDA:

Quadratic discriminant analysis

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristics

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ela Ostrovsky who participated in spectral data analysis. This work was funded in part by Todos Medical Ltd. and the Chief Scientist Office, Israel.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Udi Zelig, Omri Bar and Cheli Segev are employees at Todos Medical Ltd. Prof. Joseph Kapelushnik, Prof. Shaul Mordechai and Prof. Ilana Nathan serves as consultants to Todos Medical Ltd.

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel

      Eyal Barlev, Osnat Madhala-Givon & Nir Wasserberg

    2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

      Eyal Barlev, Ram Dickman, Osnat Madhala-Givon & Nir Wasserberg

    3. Todos Medical Ltd, 1 HaMada St, 76703, Rehovot, Israel

      Udi Zelig, Omri Bar, Cheli Segev & Felix Flomen

    4. Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

      Shaul Mordechai

    5. Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel

      Joseph Kapelushnik

    6. Faculty of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

      Joseph Kapelushnik

    7. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

      Ilana Nathan

    8. Institute of Hematology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel

      Ilana Nathan

    9. Division of General Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel

      Hanoch Kashtan

    10. Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel

      Ram Dickman

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    1. Eyal Barlev
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Udi Zelig.

    Additional information

    E. Barlev and U. Zelig contributed equally to this work.

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    Barlev, E., Zelig, U., Bar, O. et al. A novel method for screening colorectal cancer by infrared spectroscopy of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. J Gastroenterol 51, 214–221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-015-1095-7

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-015-1095-7

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