International Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences and Research

Category: Original Article,      DOI: Recived: 20/11/2023, Accepted: 26/12/2023, Published online: 29/12/2023

Evaluation of New Immunohistochemical Markers for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer

M.P Mishra1 , Saumitra Mahendra2 , Vertika Sharma3

Abstract:

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health concern, with early detection crucial for improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a novel panel of immunohistochemical markers for the early detection of CRC. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on 270 patients undergoing colonoscopy at a tertiary care center. Tissue samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, p53, Cyclin D1, PD-L1, and MMP-9 expression. The diagnostic performance of individual markers and the combined panel was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, logistic regression, and inter-observer agreement. Results: All markers showed significantly increased expression in CRC tissues compared to normal mucosa and adenomas (p<0.001). The combined panel demonstrated superior diagnostic performance (sensitivity 92.6%, specificity 88.1%, AUC 0.94) compared to individual markers. Ki-67 and MMP-9 were identified as the strongest predictors of CRC (OR 2.8 and 2.5, respectively). Inter-observer agreement was substantial to almost perfect for all markers (Cohen's kappa 0.71-0.82). Conclusion: The novel panel of immunohistochemical markers showed promising results for improving the early detection of CRC. The combined use of Ki-67, p53, Cyclin D1, PD-L1, and MMP-9 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance compared to individual markers. These findings suggest that this multi-marker approach could serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional histopathological assessment, potentially enhancing the accuracy of early CRC diagnosis and improving patient outcomes.