Enzyme Could Diagnose Early Colon Cancer

An enzyme was identified that could be used to diagnose colon cancer earlier. It is possible that this enzyme also could be a key to stopping the cancer.

Scientists studied colon cancers from 40 patients and found a form of the enzyme known as ALDH1B1 present in every colon cancer cell in 39 out of the 40 cases. The enzyme, which is normally found only in stem cells, was detected at extraordinarily high levels.

The study was led by Cancer Center investigator Vasilis Vasiliou, PhD, professor of molecular toxicology at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy (Denver, CO, USA). Prof. Vasiliou's laboratory specializes in understanding the role of enzymes called aldehyde dehydrogenases in drug metabolism, metabolic diseases, cancer, and normal and cancer stem cells.

"Other potential colon cancer biomarkers have been identified in the past, but none thus far are present in such a high percent of the cancer cells and virtually none are overexpressed like this one," said Cancer Center investigator David Orlicky, PhD, associate professor of pathology at the CU medical school and a member of the team.

Up-regulation of this enzyme into colon cancer cells and its exact role in the physiology of the tumor cells is now being studied. The team also is seeking to understand the substrate, inhibitors, and activators of ALDH1B1.

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University of Colorado School of Pharmacy