Our journey to the discovery of metabolomics diganostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer started in 2017 with the application of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, that started in 2019. Since then, we’ve lead seven projects for the discovery of biomarkers and their innovation process.
Leading to a patent application on three urine biomarkers of colorectal metastasis, and the registration of two models for colorectal screening (including precancerous lesions, the adenomas) for urine and stool.
Clinical Trial NCT Nº: NCT06452745.
So.. what is unique of Colorectal Cancer ?
Colorectal cancer (CRC) complexity resides not only in the tumorigenesis process itself but also in host-microbiome interactions. Multistep genetic mutations in oncogenes and DNA repair genes occur over time, resulting in neoplastic progression in CRC. Previous studies shown that the mutations of proto-oncogenes KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF were keys that have a significant value in CRC (1).
The development of colorectal cancer (CRC) typically follows a multistep process known as the ADENOMA-CARCINOMA SEQUENCE. It begins with the formation of neoplastic polyps with malignant potential called adenomatous polyps, which can progress to cancer over time. Genetic and epigenetic alterations play a crucial role in this transformation, disrupting normal cellular processes and promoting the growth and spread of cancer cells. Conversely, the majority of CRC cases occur sporadically due to a combination of somatic genetic and epigenetic alterations, gut dysbiosis, chronic intestinal inflammation, and lifestyle and environmental risk factors such as cigarette smoking, overweight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and diet (2).
References:
(1) Stjepanovic N, et al. Ann Oncol 2019; 30:1558–71.
(2) Chen L, et al. Biomedicines. 2022;10(12):3207.
CRC outcomes:
- (review) Urine NMR Metabolomics for Precision Oncology in Colorectal Cancer. Brezmes J, Llambrich M, Cumeras R*, Gumà J. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2022, 23 (19), 11171. doi: 10.3390/ijms231911171.
- (review) Comprehensive volatilome and metabolome signatures of colorectal cancer in urine: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mallafré-Muro C†, Llambrich M†, Cumeras R*, Pardo A, Brezmes J, Marco S, Gumà J. († joint first authors) Cancers, 2021, 13(11):2534. doi: 10.3390/cancers13112534.