Study: Clusterin May Be Useful in Early Detection of Colon Cancer

Clusterin, a molecule being studied for its relationship to a variety of diseases including several forms of cancer and Alzheimer's, may also play a useful role in early detection of colon cancer, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

University of Wisconsin researchers, in research comparing genetic patterns in mice that developed intestinal tumors to those of genetically matched cancer-free mice, identified clusterin as a potential biomarker and subjected it to a series of tests.

"Tumor cells undergoing apoptosis (cell death) expressed low levels of clusterin," the researchers reported. The cells showing high levels of clusterin, in contrast, generally lacked an antigen that seems to play a role in retarding new cancer cell growth in the intestine.

While tests are continuing, the researchers concluded that clusterin is "a potential contributor to the set of biomarkers for early detection of human colon cancer."

Other sources: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences