Diagnostic value of serum autotaxin level in colorectal cancer

Background: Autotaxin (ATX) is a nucleotide enzyme linked to cell growth, differentiation and migration. This study investigated serum levels of ATX in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: The study involved stage I-III CRC diagnosed between December 2020 and 2021, excluding those with neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, or metastasis. Healthy volunteers were controls. Serum ATX levels were measured by ELISA and compared. Results: This study included 129 patients (91 in the patient group and 38 in the control group). The optimal cutoff value of ATX for CRC was 169.98 ng/ml, and sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 91.2% (95% CI: 89.4-96.2), 78.9% (95% CI: 62.7-90.4), 4.33 and 0.11, respectively. Conclusion: The serum ATX level is a useful biomarker for CRC. What is this summary about?Here, we summarize the results from 'The diagnostic value of serum autotaxin level in colorectal cancer' study, published in Biomarkers in Medicine. This study examined a biomarker that could enable the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Autotaxin (ATX) plays a key role in inflammatory and neoplastic processes. In our study, serum ATX levels were measured in patients with colorectal cancer.What are the results?Serum ATX levels were higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in healthy volunteers. ATX levels were not associated with tumor stage. However, ATX levels were lower in mucinous adenocarcinomas. The ATX levels were higher in females than males. Although our study sample was small, we observed that ATX was more sensitive and specific than carcinoembryonic antigen in detecting colorectal cancer.What do these results mean?Serum ATX levels are promising biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis and patient surveillance. Serum autotaxin level might be a potential biomarker in the diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancer.