NMT2 Biomarker Detection for Colorectal Cancer Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current colorectal cancer (CRC) screening methods, such as Fecal Occult Blood Testing, Sigmoidoscopy, and Colonoscopy, face low compliance due to invasiveness, high false positives, and limited sensitivity, necessitating a more effective screening approach.
Innovation Solution
Measuring N-myristoylatransferase 2 (NMT2) levels in patient samples using specific antibodies or nucleic acid sequences to identify candidates for further CRC screening, potentially through sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, as NMT2 overexpression is associated with CRC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Fecal Occult Blood Testing is used for CRC screening, then cost effectiveness is improved, but false positive rates increase and patient compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measured parameter from general fecal blood detection to specific NMT2 protein level detection in blood samples. This parameter change allows for more specific cancer-related signaling detection, reducing false positives while maintaining the non-invasive nature and cost-effectiveness of blood-based testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces NMT2 protein levels as an intermediary biomarker that mediates between the non-invasive blood test and the actual CRC diagnosis. This intermediary provides more specific information about cancer risk compared to direct fecal blood detection, improving reliability while maintaining ease of testing.
2Measurement precision
If Sigmoidoscopy and Colonoscopy are used for CRC screening, then detection sensitivity is improved, but invasiveness increases and patient compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses NMT2 protein levels in blood as an intermediary screening tool that provides valuable detection information without the invasiveness of endoscopic procedures. This intermediary test can identify high-risk patients who would benefit from further invasive testing, improving overall screening compliance while maintaining detection sensitivity for the right patient population.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements NMT2 blood testing as a preliminary screening step before invasive procedures. This preliminary action identifies patients who are most likely to have CRC, allowing clinicians to prioritize invasive testing for high-risk patients and potentially screen others with less invasive methods, thereby improving overall compliance while maintaining detection sensitivity.
3Ease of operation
If Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is used as a biomarker, then blood test availability is improved, but sensitivity and specificity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the biomarker parameter from CEA levels to NMT2 protein levels in blood samples. This parameter change maintains the ease and availability of blood-based testing while providing superior sensitivity and specificity for CRC detection, as NMT2 levels are more specifically associated with colorectal cancer pathology.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively identifies CRC candidates by distinguishing NMT2 overexpression, providing a non-invasive and sensitive approach to improve patient compliance and detection rates, specifically targeting T-cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells for accurate assessment.
Implementation Method 1
measuring N-myristoylatransferase 2 (NMT2) levels in a sample from a patient by using a measuring reagent which is specific to NMT2 compared to NMT1
Implementation Method 2
measuring N-myristoylatransferase 2 (NMT2) levels in a sample from a patient at risk of developing CRC, suspected of having CRC or having CRC
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is the Identification of the NMT isozyme overexpressed in PBMCs of colorectal cancer patients and the cell types overexpressing NMT2 in the PBMCs of CRC patients.