NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSIS OF COLORECTAL CANCER AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS BASED ON THE COMBINED USE OF FECAL LACTOFERRIN AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL HEMOCCULT TEST

Abstract

The aim of the research was to study the possibility to detect organic disease of large intestine using a combination of fecal lactoferrin and immunochemical hemoccult test. 48 patients with colorectal cancer, 52 patients with ulcerative colitis, 46 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 25 healthy volunteers were examined. Lactoferrin was detected in feces samples taken from one defecation act by means of immune-enzyme analysis (ELISA) using ELISA TEST KIT Hycult Biotechnology (Netherlands). The marker concentration at the level of 15,25 ug/g was defined as the separation point. Hemoglobin in the feces was detected by the immunochemical hemoccult test with sets of the firm «Biotech Atlantic, Inc.» (U.S.). It was found that the sensitivity of the combined testing of fecal lactoferrin and immunochemical hemoccult test in the detection of colorectal cancer and ulcerative colitis was 100 % (95 % CI: 92,5-100) and 84,62 % (95 % CI:71,9-93,1), respectively. The specificity of the sample was at 85,92 % (95 % CI: 75,6-93). Consequently, the combined sample was a sensitive and specific marker to identify the organic pathology of large intestine.