# SURGICAL APPLICATION OF A NEW MARKER FOR COLON CANCER

> **NIH NIH R01** · BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CTR (NEW YORK) · 1987 · $173,732

## Abstract

Prior studies by the applicants indicate that:  (1)\THDOC
(tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone), a normal component of human bile, is
carcinogenic in the hamster embryo cell transformation (HECT) test; (2)\in
the gut 21-DOH (21-steroid dehydroxylase), synthesized exclusively by E.
lentum and phenotypically similar organisms, metabolizes THDOC to the
noncarcinogenic pregnanolone; and (3)\normal subjects, patients with
adenomatous polyps, and patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum can
be distinguished on the basis of their fecal concentration of E. lentum
(and, therefore, 21-DOH activity).

We propose to study the E. lentum (21-DOH) concentration in feces in:
(a)\normal (healthy) volunteers and a vegetarian population; (b)\patients
with nonGI malignancies; (c)\patients with non-neoplastic colorectal
diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, diverticulitis);
(d)\patients with premalignant neoplasms (adenomatous polyps, villotubular
and villous adenomas); and (e)\patients with colorectal carcinoma.
Patients in groups d and e will undergo repeat lifetime tests for 21-DOH
activity and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), and colonoscopy at regular
intervals.  16alpha-DOH activity will be assayed simultaneously in all
fecal samples to assure the specificity of 21-DOH.  In connection with this
research, we will attempt to isolate THDOC from selected fecal specimens
and to determine the fecal concentrations of this compound.

These studies may provide a fecal marker for colorectal neoplasms and,
therefore, a measure of the effectiveness of its surgical treatment
(polypectomy, colon resection).  The marker may also facilitate the
identification of patients with new or recurrent neoplasms and identify
patient groups at increased risk of colonic cancer.  From a theoretical
point of view, these studies may aid our understanding of the polyp-cancer
sequence and identify for the first time a relationship between bacterial
metabolism and colorectal cancer.  (4)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174481
- **Project number:** 5R01CA036882-03
- **Recipient organization:** BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CTR (NEW YORK)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LK6JJKJ9RVS3
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLES K MC SHERRY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $173,732
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-30 → 1989-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174481

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174481, SURGICAL APPLICATION OF A NEW MARKER FOR COLON CANCER (5R01CA036882-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174481. Licensed CC0.

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