The diagnostic value of the liquid biopsy in the colon cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The utility of liquid biopsy in the screening and the follow-up of many cancers and mainly CRC has been reported by many authors. Our aim was to assess its diagnostic yield as a surrogate of tissue biopsy in CRC. METHODS: The authors performed a meta-analysis according to the PRISMA recommendations. Publication bias was evaluated using the Funnel plot followed by the Egger regression test. Meta-disc 2.0 was used. In order to assess the heterogeneity, the Cochrane Chi 2 test (Q-test), Tau2 and 95% prediction interval (PI) were calculated (CMA version 4). RESULTS: Our results revealed a high diagnostic potential of the liquid biopsy in CRC with a pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR and DOR accounting respectively for 77%, 94.3%, 6.85, 0.26 and 26.467. The AUC accounted for 0.97. Based on the prediction interval analysis, we observed an important heterogeneity. The meta-regression analysis revealed the sample nature (plasma), the biomarker used (cfDNA) and the intake of a preoperative treatment as potential moderators. CONCLUSION: Even if our results highlighted a high diagnostic potential of liquid biopsy in the diagnosis of CRC, the heterogeneity observed reinforces the need to harmonize the use of particular samples, the biomarker assessed and to make attention to the treatment intake before surgery.