Plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels: Potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer

Abstract

PURPOSE: Plasma levels of lysophospholipids were evaluated as potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC), where a highly reliable and minimally invasive blood test is lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with CRC (n = 133) and control subjects (n = 125) were recruited through the Cleveland Clinic. Preoperative plasma samples were analyzed for lysophospholipid levels using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in a blinded fashion. Participants were randomly divided in a 2:1 ratio into a "training set" (TS) and a "validation set" (VS). Logistic regression models were used in the TS to identify markers that best discriminated between CRC and controls. A cutoff point for the final di..