The analysis of DNA from fecal samples as a basis for a non-invasive molecular diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors

A tumor evolves from normal cells as a result of DNA alterations. Thus, tumor specific DNA mutations might serve as parameters in cancer diagnosis. The detection of mutations in DNA from body fluids that had direct contact to the solid tumor might improve conventional diagnostic methods. As an example, the mutation analysis of fecal DNA can be used to diagnose gastrointestinal tumours. Recently, the technical problems of the purification and the analysis of genomic DNA from stool could be solved. The novel HD-PCR technique will be introduced which allows the specific and highly sensitive detection of mutations in DNA from stool.