Background:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) comprises a large proportion of malignant
tumors, and early detection of CRC is critical for effective treatment and optimal prognosis. We aimed to discover and validate serum
autoantibodies for early detection of CRC. Methods: Combined with CRC-associated
autoantibodies discovered by serological
proteome and multiplex analyses, 26 predefined
autoantibodies were evaluated in 315 samples (130
CRCs, 75 advanced
adenomas, and 110 healthy controls) by
protein microarray analysis.
Autoantibodies with potential detection value were verified by
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the
biomarkers. Results: Four serum
autoantibodies (ALDH1B1, UQCRC1, CTAG1, and CENPF) showed statistically different levels between patients with advanced
neoplasm (CRC or advanced
adenoma) and controls in microarray analysis, which were validated by ELISAs. Among the four
biomarkers, the ALDH1B1
autoantibody showed the highest detection value with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.70 and 0.74 to detect CRC and advanced
adenoma with sensitivities of 75.68 and 62.31% and specificities of 63.06 and 73.87%, respectively. By combining the four
biomarkers, the performance was improved with an AUC of 0.79 to detect CRC and advanced
adenomas. Conclusion: The ALDH1B1
autoantibody has a good potential for early detection of CRC and advanced
adenoma, and measuring serum
autoantibodies against
tumor-associated
antigens may improve detection of early CRC.