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Ludwig Oxford’s Parinaz Mehdipour has been awarded a CRUK Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer to identify circular RNA biomarkers for the early detection of normal colon cell transformation into precancerous and colorectal cancer states

Colorectal cancer (also commonly known as bowel cancer) is the fourth most common cancer in the UK according to Cancer Research UK’s bowel cancer statistics. Sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) are premalignant lesions of the colon and are increasingly recognised as key precursors in the development of colorectal cancer.

Dr Parinaz Mehdipour and her team have been awarded a CRUK Early Detection & Diagnosis Primer Award to find RNA biomarkers that can improve early detection of colorectal cancer, with a specific focus on SSLs.

As SSLs are flat in appearance, they are difficult to detect during colonoscopies, resulting in a significant proportion of SSLs being underdiagnosed, dampening early intervention strategies and increasing the risk of progression to invasive colorectal cancer. By focusing their efforts on investigating circular RNAs (circRNAs) as potential diagnostic biomarkers, the Mehdipour research group hope to systematically identify circRNAs that are expressed differently across healthy, precancerous (SSLs) and cancerous colorectal tissue.

CircRNAs are circular closed single-stranded RNA molecules that are highly stable and abundant in biofluids, making them ideal targets for liquid biopsy applications. Their ability to resist exonuclease degradation means they can persist in blood and other bodily fluids too, enhancing their potential for non-invasive cancer diagnosis.

On hearing of her successful funding application, Parinaz noted

“I was delighted to hear we have received funding to start this exciting project. My team and I are very hopeful that identifying key biomarkers in SSLs could lead to positive changes in the early detection of colorectal cancer and have a real impact on patient outcomes.”