Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and recurrence is one of the biggest challenges associated with treating the disease. However, early detection and monitoring can help improve patient outcomes. Now, a team of researchers has developed a new tool that can accurately predict cancer recurrence through a simple, cost-effective, and easily implementable method.In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers presented the results of their study, which involves a multi-marker DNA methylation liquid biopsy approach. The method involves analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to predict the recurrence of colorectal cancer. The new method is called mqMSP, which stands for "multiplex qPCR methylation-specific PCR.""Our method can predict cancer recurrence even before it shows up on imaging scans," said Dr. Yuji Toiyama, a colorectal surgeon at the National Defense Medical College in Japan and a co-author of the study. "The earlier we can detect cancer recurrence, the better we can treat it."The new method uses a panel of DNA markers that detect methylation, a process that controls gene expression by adding chemical tags to the DNA. When a tumor develops, it can change the methylation patterns in its DNA, which can then be detected in the bloodstream through ctDNA. Thus, the mqMSP method can detect small amounts of ctDNA that indicate residual tumor cells in the patient's body.The mqMSP method is highly sensitive, with a detection limit of one tumor cell in one milliliter of blood. It is also specific, with a low rate of false-positive results. The researchers tested the method on 43 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery to remove their tumors. The patients were monitored using mqMSP at regular intervals after surgery, and their CT scans were evaluated at the same time.The researchers found that the mqMSP method detected residual tumor DNA in 12 patients who later developed cancer recurrence. This detection was made an average of 6.1 months before recurrence was detected by CT scans. For seven of these patients, the mqMSP method detected residual tumor DNA even before surgery."This approach has the potential to change the way we monitor colorectal cancer patients after surgery," said Dr. Ajay Goel, a co-author of the study and a professor at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute. "It allows us to detect small amounts of tumor DNA that may be present even after surgery and alert us to the possibility of cancer recurrence."In addition to its high accuracy, the mqMSP method is also cost-effective and can be easily implemented in clinical practice. It requires only a single tube for the test, and the reagents used in the method are affordable and readily available. The study authors suggest that mqMSP could be further developed as a tool for personalized medicine in colorectal cancer treatment.The mqMSP method was developed by Methylation Dna Detection Kits Qpcr, a company that specializes in developing tools for the detection of DNA methylation. The company's technology is based on the principle of quantitative PCR, which is a commonly used method for analyzing DNA. The company's products are designed to be affordable, user-friendly, and applicable to a variety of research and clinical applications."There is a growing demand for tools that can detect DNA methylation in clinical practice," said a spokesperson for Methylation Dna Detection Kits Qpcr. "Our products are designed to meet that demand by providing accurate, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for both research and clinical applications."In conclusion, the mqMSP method presents a significant advancement in the detection and monitoring of colorectal cancer recurrence. It is highly accurate, specific, and cost-effective, and can be easily implemented in clinical practice. The method has the potential to improve patient outcomes by allowing for earlier detection of cancer recurrence and more effective treatment.
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