Diagnostic use of epitope detection in monocytes blood test for early detection of colon cancer metastasis

Abstract

A follow-up strategy in cancer aftercare can result in early detection of metastasis and/or recurrence. Therefore, sensitive and reliable diagnostic tests that are easy to perform are needed. Here, the authors present the combined use of the epitope detection in monocytes (EDIM)–TKTL1 and EDIM–Apo10 blood test in aftercare monitoring of a patient with colon carcinoma. Whereas the established tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 did not indicate metastasis even at a timepoint where clinical signs and imaging techniques already demonstrated metastasis, the combined application of the EDIM–TKTL1 and the EDIM–Apo10 blood tests was positive 9 months before detection of metastasis. These findings – taken together with recently published evaluation data of the EDIM–TKTL1 blood test – suggest that the combined application of the EDIM–TKTL1 and the EDIM–Apo10 blood tests might indicate metastasis earlier than established tumor markers and could serve as sensitive and noninvasive methods that might be used for early detection of colon cancer metastasis.