Sub-classification of Colorectal Cancer Using Surface Antigen Antibody Microarray and Fluorescence Multiplexing

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in Australia. Even after resection up to 50% of patients relapse. In an attempt to prevent recurrences chemotherapy is administered to high risk patients. However, as few as 10-20% patients genuinely benefit because the clinical course for individuals with CRC remains difficult to predict, largely due to prognostically heterogeneous groups within same-stage tumour categories.

Cancer specific biomarkers have played crucial roles in cancer characterisation and prediction. Surface molecules (also known as CD antigens) make ideal biomarkers, as their expression often evolves with tumour progression or interactions with other cell types, such as tumour infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs) and tumour associated macrophages (TAMs).