Epigenetic Signature for CRC Early Detection

Overview

The epiCED is a noninvasive blood-based assay designed for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) epigenetic markers. This study leverages retrospective, multi-center cohorts of CRC patients and non-cancer controls to discover and validate a robust cfDNA methylation signature. Small-scale sequencing and machine learning-based modeling will be applied to identify a minimal panel of methylation markers that can accurately discriminate CRC from non-cancer individuals, including early-stage disease. The ultimate goal is to develop a clinically practical, noninvasive screening tool that enables population-level early detection and improves patient outcomes.

The epiCED is a noninvasive, blood-based approach aimed at early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) epigenetic markers. Early detection of CRC is critical for improving patient outcomes, but current diagnostic tools-including colonoscopy, CT, and MRI-are either invasive, costly, or insufficiently sensitive for early-stage disease, limiting their use for population-wide screening. This study will utilize retrospective, multi-center cohorts comprising adult participants (≥18 years) with confirmed CRC and non-cancer controls, including healthy volunteers and individuals with benign gastrointestinal conditions. Blood samples will be subjected to cfDNA extraction and small-scale epigenetic sequencing to profile 5mC and 5hmC patterns. During the discovery phase, differential methylation analysis and machine learning-based feature selection will be applied to identify a minimal set of cfDNA methylation markers that optimally discriminate CRC from non-cancer individuals. In the training and validation phase, the identified signature will be evaluated across independent international multi-center cohorts to ensure reproducibility, robustness, and early-stage detection performance. The primary objectives are to: * Develop a cfDNA methylation panel capable of accurately distinguishing CRC patients from non-cancer controls. * Validate the panel's ability to detect early-stage CRC. * Secondary objectives include evaluating the association of the methylation signature with clinical parameters, tumor stage, and demographic factors. By integrating high-resolution cfDNA methylation profiling with advanced computational modeling, epiCED aims to provide a scalable, cost-effective, and clinically practical tool for noninvasive early detection of colorectal cancer.