Colorectal Omics and ofCS Proteoglycans (COCO) in Screening and a Diagnostic Pathway

Overview

Colorectal Cancer (CRC), or bowel cancer, is a serious disease that affects many people globally. The earlier CRC is diagnosed, the better the patient outcomes. The problem with the current diagnostic methods is that they lead to many unnecessary endoscopies (colonoscopies). In Denmark alone, over 30,000 patients every year undergo a colonoscopy without having a serious disease. This puts a major strain on both patients and the healthcare system. This research project aims to solve that problem. COCO-S is investigating oncofoetal chondroitin sulphate-modified proteoglycans (ofCS) to see if ofCS can be used as a novel, unique cancer marker found in the blood. ofCS are special molecules that reappear in most tumour tissues. A method has been developed to detect ofCSs in a simple blood sample. Initial findings from an ongoing study are highly promising. A test using five different ofCS markers has shown very high accuracy in detecting CRC: it correctly identifies 86% of cancer cases (sensitivity) and correctly gives a "negative" result in 97% of cases without cancer (specificity). The results also suggest that high ofCS levels might help clinicians detect adenomas (polyps), which are early precursors to cancer. Combining the analysis of ofCS in the blood with the existing stool test (FIT) and other promising blood markers can significantly improve patient selection for a colonoscopy. This project will collect blood samples from patients scheduled for a colonoscopy. The blood will be analysed for ofCS and other substances to determine the combined predictive value for patients who truly require the procedure. The findings from this project could revolutionize CRC diagnosis. By more accurately identifying patients who need a colonoscopy, the number of unnecessary, invasive procedures can be reduced while maintaining patient safety and ensuring cancer is found in time.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden. Early detection improves outcomes, but current diagnostic pathways lead to many unnecessary colonoscopies. In Denmark, over 30,000 colonoscopies are performed annually on patients without any pathology, burdening both healthcare resources and patients. This project aims to address this unmet clinical need by investigating the potential of oncofoetal chondroitin sulphate-modified proteoglycans (ofCS) as a novel, tumour-specific biomarker for improved patient allocation to colonoscopy. OfCS are unique molecules that re-emerge in most cancer tissues and can be detected in blood plasma using a proprietary method developed. Preliminary findings from an ongoing study in CRC patients are highly encouraging. A panel of five ofCS biomarkers has shown high accuracy in detecting CRC, with a cumulative AUC of 0.96, a sensitivity of 86%, and a specificity of 97%. Importantly, these results also suggest that elevated ofCS levels may help detect adenomas, an early precursor to CRC. Incorporating ofCS analysis into existing diagnostic frameworks, such as the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), will significantly improve the accuracy of patient selection for colonoscopy. The study assesses whether supplementing the FIT with ofCS analysis and other biomarkers from proteomics and metabolomics can yield a significantly higher AUC of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) in both the screening and the 'cancer patient pathway'. This prospective cohort study includes patients undergoing a colonoscopy. Participants blood will be analysed for ofCS, and proteomics and metabolomics biomarkers, to determine their combined predictive value. The findings from this project could revolutionise CRC diagnosis by creating a tailor-made pathway. By more accurately identifying patients who need a colonoscopy, invasive procedures can be reduced while maintaining patient safety and cancer detection rates.