Combating colorectal cancer recurrence - an innovative predictive approach using miRNAs

OVERVIEW

Georgetown University researchers have developed an innovative way to predict the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence by monitoring miRNA levels in the circulatory system. The invention provides a kit containing reagents that specifically recognize and detect miRNAs, enabling a more comprehensive risk assessment by comparing patient results with control biomaterials. This novel technique enables timely intervention for patients at high risk of recurrence, making patient treatment more personalized and effective, reducing recurrence, and improving long-term outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer ranks as the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally, and despite improvements in detection and treatment, accurately predicting recurrence remains challenging, particularly for early-stage patients. Existing predictive methods, for example, mRNA analysis, may lack the specificity required for effective risk assessment and timely intervention. This invention tackles these limitations with miRNA analysis, providing a comprehensive risk assessment that enables targeted interventions based on each patient’s recurrence risk. This precision-driven approach not only improves patient outcomes but also optimizes healthcare resources, proving highly valuable in oncology diagnostics and personalized medicine.

Benefit

• Improves recurrence prediction accuracy, enabling targeted monitoring and intervention for high-risk patients, potentially increasing overall survival rates for colorectal cancer patients.
• Reduces the need for invasive procedures, providing a safer and more comfortable experience through simple biological material testing, such as blood.
• Accurate risk assessment minimizes unnecessary treatments and check-ups, ultimately lowering healthcare costs.
• Enhances early detection and proactive cancer management, promoting better long-term outcomes by reducing recurrence rates and improving patient quality of life.

Market Application

• Accurately predicts recurrence in high-risk colorectal cancer patients, addressing a critical need in clinical oncology.
• Supports clinical trial precision by identifying patients with higher recurrence risk, aiding drug development.
• Strengthens cancer research through miRNA-based risk assessment, paving the way for new diagnostic advancements.

Publications

• Mikhail S, Shivapurkar N, Bai W, Marshall J, Hwang JJ, Pishvaian MJ, et al. Relationship of loss of miRNA-296 in the circulation and clinical outcome in patients receiving systemic chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer. 2012
  . Available at: <https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.e14009>. Date accessed: May 20, 2012. doi: https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.e14009

• Shivapurkar N, Weiner LM, Marshall JL, Madhavan S, Deslattes Mays A, Juhl H, Wellstein A. Recurrence of early stage colon cancer predicted by expression pattern of circulating microRNAs. PLoS One
  . 2014;9(1) Available at: < https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084686>. Date accessed: January 6, 2014. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084686
• Shivapurkar N, He AR, Mikhail S, Pishvaian MJ, Hartley ML, Wellstein A, Marshall JL. Circulating microRNAs in predicting the prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers. Curr Biomarkers.
  2016;6(1):26-34. Available at: < https://www.benthamdirect.com/content/journals/cbm/10.2174/2468422806666160519143832>. Date accessed: January 1, 2016. doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/2468422806666160519143832

Intellectual property status

Granted Patent

Patent number : Patent No.: 10,351,913

Where : USA