Book of abstract 2008

Plasma TIMP-1 and CEA in detection of primary colorectal cancer: a
prospective, population based study of 4990 persons
Ib Jarle Christensen1, H. Nils Brünner2 and Hans Jørgen Nielsen3
1The Finsen Laboratory, Copenhagen Biocenter, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Institute of Life Sciences,
University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; 3Dept. of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre
University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
Previous results have suggested that plasma TIMP-1 may be a useful biomarker for the
early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), and in particular colon cancer (CC). These
results also demonstrated that CEA with plasma TIMP-1 independently improved the
detection of CRC. A prospective, multi-center and population based study was carried
out to test these hypotheses.
Persons referred to endoscopy due to symptoms of CRC were accrued. After informed
consent, blood samples were collected and baseline data including life style variables,
current medication and relevant co-morbidity were recorded. The findings of the
examination by sigmoidoscopy and/or colonoscopy were recorded. For patients having
CRC, localization and TNM stage were registered. For patients with adenomas, type, size,
number and dysplasia were recorded. All findings were registered using ICD-10 codes.
Plasma levels of TIMP-1 and CEA were determined using the Abbott ARCHITECT ®
i2000 automated immunoassay system.
Four-thousand nine hundred and ninety persons were included in the study. The
examination was sigmoidoscopy in 34% and colonoscopy in 64% of the population (2%
other). CC was detected in 189 (3.8%) persons and rectal cancer (RC) in 115 (2.3%).
Other findings were 10 patients with a cancer other than CRC, 923 patients with adenomas
and 1,217 with another finding, primarily diverticulosis. Plasma TIMP-1 and CEA are
significantly elevated in CRC patients compared to subjects without cancer (p