Israel-Medical-Healthcare

[genisi]

Micromedic

Their most important test for blood levels of the CD24 protein could be approved in the EU by mid next year for identifying patients who would benefit most from colonoscopy.
Here is the ASCO abs:

Use of a simple blood test evaluating the level of CD24 protein to detect subjects with adenomas

http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=72&abstractID=1774

Meeting:
2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Session Type and Session Title:
General Poster Session C: Cancers of the Colon and Rectum

Abstract No:
286


Background: CD24 is a cell surface protein and P-selectin ligand, involved in cell adhesion and metastasis. Using gene expression array we have shown that CD24 expression is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) (Sagiv E, et al. Gastroenterology 2006;131:630-9). The data was confirmed by IHC staining showing expression of CD24 in ~90% of adenomas and adenocarcinomas. The aim of the study was to evaluate CD24 protein expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from normal, adenoma, and CRC subjects. Methods: We initially recruited 150 consecutive subjects attending Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Center. Each consented individual underwent colonoscopy. PBLs were isolated from blood samples and protein extracts were subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blotting using anti-CD24. The samples were also externally evaluated. A second validation trial was conducted which included 73 consecutive subjects. Band intensities were scanned and tested for statistical significance. Sensitivity and specificity for CD24 was calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The study was approved by the Israel Ministry of Health. Results: Among the patients that we first analyzed, 63 had colorectal cancer (CRC), 19 had adenomas, and 68 had normal colonoscopies. The sensitivity and specificity of the CD24 test for distinguishing CRC from normal subjects was 70.5% (95% CI, 54.8-83.2%) and 83.8% (95% CI, 74.6-92.7%), respectively, and for the detection of advanced adenomas was 84.2% (95% CI, 60.4-96.4%) and 73.5% (95% CI, 61.4-83.5%), respectively. The results obtained in the external evaluation slightly varied. Improved values were achieved in the validation trial. Thus, the sensitivity for the detection of CRC was 92.3% (95% CI, 63.9-98.7%), with similar specificity, whereas the specificity for detecting adenomas was higher, 89.2% (95% CI, 74.6-96.9%). Conclusions: This blood test is the first of its kind to be able to detect adenomas. It can also successfully distinguish CRC from healthy subjects. CD24 may serve as a new potential and promising blood biomarker for the early detection and CRC surveillance.