APPLICATION
Platform independent assay to distinguish between sessile serrated adenomas and hyperplastic polyps
KEY BENEFITS
• Accurate diagnosis of colon cancer and polyps
• Allows appropriate treatment decisions
• Economical
MARKET SUMMARY
Colon cancer is the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colonic neoplasms originate primarily from colon polyps and develop partially overlapping but mechanistically distinct pathways that have been designated as the adenomatous and serrated pathways. Evidence indicates that the majority of other colon adenocarcinomas, possibly 20-30%, arise from a subset of serrated polyps, designated sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps), which were previously classified as hyperplastic polyps (HPs) and thought to have little or no tumorigenic potential. SSA/Ps have been distinguished from HPs on the basis of their endoscopic appearance (larger, flat and hypermucinous) and histologic characteristics (dilatated crypts, horizontal crypts, and boot shaped deformities). Because SSA/Ps and HPs may have overlapping and similar features, including serrated crypt architecture, misclassification is common. Because SSA/Ps account for 20-30% of colon cancers and HPs have little risk of progressing to cancer, misclassification results in inadequate patient follow up or unnecessary cancer screening.
TECHNICAL SUMMARY
University inventors have identified a method of distinguishing between SSA/Ps and HPs at a molecular level. In this way, subjective analysis of the appearance of the neoplasms is removed from the process, and misclassifications are greatly
reduced. The technology also provides for a predictive tool to accurately determine the risk that a colorectal polyp will develop into cancer.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
Validated with human patient samples