Fecal microbial DNA markers serve for screening colorectal neoplasm in asymptomatic subjects

Abstract

Background and aim: We have previously shown that fecal microbial markers might be useful for non-invasive diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma. Here, we assessed the application of microbial DNA markers, as compared with and in combination with fecal immunochemical test (FIT), in detecting CRC and adenoma in symptomatic patients and asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: We recruited 676 subjects [210 CRC, 115 advanced adenoma (AA), 86 non-advanced adenoma, and 265 non-neoplastic controls], including 241 symptomatic and 435 asymptomatic subjects. Fecal abundances of Fusobacterium nucleatum, a Lachnoclostridium sp. m3, Bacteroides clarus, and Clostridium hathewayi were quantified by quantitative PCR. Combining score of the four microbial markers (4Bac) and diagnostic prediction were determined using our previously established scoring model and cutoff values and FIT with a cutoff of 100 ng Hb/mL.

Results: 4Bac detected similar percentages of CRC [85.3% (95%CI: 79.2-90.2%) vs 84.9% (68.1-94.9%)] and AA [35.7% (12.8-64.9%) vs 38.6% (29.1-48.8%)], while FIT detected more CRC [72.1% (63.7-79.4%) vs 66.7% (48.2-82.0%)] and AA [28.6% (8.4-58.1%) vs 16.8% (10.1-25.6%)], in symptomatic vs asymptomatic subjects, respectively. Focusing on the asymptomatic cohort, 4Bac was more sensitive for diagnosing CRC and AA than FIT (P < 0.001), with lower specificity [83.3% (77.6-88.0%) vs 98.6% (96.0-99.7%)]. FIT failed to detect any non-advanced adenoma [0% (0.0-4.2%)] compared with 4Bac [41.9% (31.3-53.0%), P < 0.0001]. Combining 4Bac with FIT improved sensitivities for CRC [90.9% (75.7-98.1%)] and AA [48.5% (38.4-58.7%)] detection.

Conclusion: Quantitation of fecal microbial DNA markers may serve as a new test, stand alone, or in combination with FIT for screening colorectal neoplasm in asymptomatic subjects.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; fecal immunochemical test (FIT); microbial makers; neoplasia; screening.