LONG INTERSPERSED NUCLEAR ELEMENTS (LINE-1) AND ALU HYPOMETHYLATION AS BIOMARKERS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER METASTASIS

摘要

A method for determining a colorectal cancer metastasis in a human subject suffering from a primary colorectal cancer (CRC) is described herein. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: i) identifying the human subject suffering from the primary CRC, ii) obtaining one or more biological samples from the human subject, iii) detecting a methylation level of Alu, LINE-1, or both in the one or more biological samples, and iv) increasing the level of the colorectal metastatic stage in the human subject when the methylation level of Alu, LINE-1 is lower compared to a corresponding control methylation level of Alu, LINE-l.