Prodefensin-A6 Assay for Colorectal Cancer Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing colorectal cancer, such as the Faecal Occult Blood Test and colonoscopy, suffer from low sensitivity and specificity, and lack early detection capabilities, making them inadequate for effective screening and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A method for in vitro diagnosis of colorectal cancer by detecting Prodefensin-A6 in biological samples, which is specifically secreted by malignant colonic tumors and can be found in samples remote from the tumor, allowing for early and non-invasive diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Faecal Occult Blood Test is used for screening, then screening coverage is improved, but sensitivity for early detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from general blood presence (FOBT) to specific tumor-secreted molecules (Prodefensin-A6, beta-defensin-2). This parameter change enables early detection with high sensitivity while maintaining screening feasibility, resolving the contradiction between screening coverage and detection sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If colonoscopy is performed for early detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but invasiveness and patient compliance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic function from invasive colonoscopy to a simple blood test detecting tumor-secreted molecules. By taking out the detection capability and applying it to peripheral blood analysis, the invention maintains high detection accuracy while eliminating invasiveness, thereby improving patient compliance.
3Measurement precision
If existing tumor markers are used, then diagnostic capability is improved, but ability to detect precursor lesions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent detects tumor-secreted molecules (Prodefensin-A6, beta-defensin-2) that are released early in the carcinogenesis process, before invasive cancer develops. This preliminary detection capability allows identification of precursor lesions and early-stage tumors, improving both diagnostic capability and reliability for detecting precancerous conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro diagnosis of colorectal cancer by determining the presence of the Prodefensin-A6 tumour marker in a biological sample taken from a patient suspected of having colorectal cancer, it being possible for said method to be used both in early diagnosis, screening, therapeutic follow-up and prognosis, and in relapse diagnosis in relation to colorectal cancer.