Glycoproteomics-Based Liquid Biopsy: Translational Outlook for Colorectal Cancer Clinical Management in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) signifies a significant healthcare challenge in Southeast Asia. Despite advancements in screening approaches and treatment modalities, significant medical gaps remain, ranging from prevention and early diagnosis to determining targeted therapy and establishing personalized approaches to managing CRC. There is a need to expand more validated biomarkers in clinical practice. An advanced technique incorporating high-throughput mass spectrometry as a liquid biopsy to unravel a repertoire of glycoproteins and glycans would potentially drive the development of clinical tools for CRC screening, diagnosis and monitoring, and it can be further adapted to the existing standard-of-care procedure. Therefore this review offers a perspective on glycoproteomics-driven liquid biopsy and its potential integration into the clinical care of CRC in the southeast Asia region.

Tweetable abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant concern in Southeast Asia, with gaps in prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Finding glycoproteins’ and glycans’ potentials as CRC biomarkers could revolutionize CRC care, from screening to treatment, across the region.

Keywords::

• biomarker
• colon cancer
• glycoproteomics
• liquid biopsy
• screening

Author Contributions

Gaayathri Kumarasamy: writing- original draft preparation, reviewing, and editing. Nurul Hakimah Mohd Salim: writing- original draft preparation. Nur Syafiqah Mohd Afandi: writing- original draft preparation. Mohd Afiq Hazlami Habib: writing- original draft preparation. Nor Datiakma Mat Amin: writing- original draft preparation. Mohd Nazri Ismail: supervision, writing- reviewing and editing. Marahaini Musa: conceptualisation, writing- reviewing and editing, supervision, project administration.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to the following individuals who contributed valuable ideas and insights during the development of this review article: Hardiyanti Nirwan Ben, Khayrin Khairiz, Dr. Ley Hian Low, Dr. Kiat Yee Liow, Dr. Lee Cheng Siang, Dr. Thin-Thin Aye, Fadzhairi Jabar and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Asyilla Che Jalil.

Financial disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.