Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Immunology,
University of Vigo 36200 Vigo, Spain | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela,
Spain | Department of Computer Sciences, University of Vigo,
36200 Vigo, Spain
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr Francisco Javier
Rodríguez-Berrocal, Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e
Inmunología, Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de Ciencias de Vigo; As Lagoas
Marcosende, 36200 Vigo, Spain. Tel.: +34 986812571; Fax: +34 986812556; E-mail:
berrocal@uvigo.es
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess if the combination of CD26
and alpha-L-fucosidase has a role in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, paying
particular attention to the stages in which the tumour is not yet disseminated.
CD26 concentration and alpha-L-fucosidase activity were determined in sera from
110 colorectal cancer patients and 46 donors. The combination of CD26 and
alpha-L-fucosidase showed a specificity of 100% with a sensitivity of 64% in
the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Interestingly, the combination of both
markers had a sensitivity of 75% in the stage I at the highest specificity
(100%), providing also high sensitivity levels for the other non-disseminated
stages (66% for stages II and III). In conclusion, the combined use of CD26
and alpha-L-fucosidase offers high sensitivity with high specificity in the
diagnosis of colorectal cancer, especially at the earliest stage (TNM I).
