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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer Risk and Prevalence by Stool DNA Integrity Detection
Published on: June 8, 2020
Free circulating DNA as possible tumour marker in colorectal cancer
L Boni1, E Cassinotti, M Canziani
1Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. luigi.boni@uninsubria.it
Aim Of The Study:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of free circulating DNA (CFDNA) as a potential tumour marker in patients suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC).
Materials And Methods:
The quantification of plasma DNA was determined through the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the RNAse P gene. We studied patients undergoing surgery for primary CRC, at different stages of disease and a cohort of comparable healthy donors. Data were statistically analysed using Student's t-test.
Results:
The mean DNA index of the tumour samples was 4771 ng/ml, about 50 times higher in comparison with healthy donors (mean value 0.85 ng/ml). In contrast the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value of these patients was altered in only 47% of cases.
Conclusion:
This study shows that circulating free DNA levels in plasma of patients with CRC are significantly higher compared to healthy subjects, and suggest a new, non-invasive, approach for colon cancer detection and to identify high risk individuals for CRC screening.
