Methods and materials for detecting colorectal neoplasm

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and materials related to the detection of colorectal neoplasm-specific markers in or associated with a subject's stool sample. In particular, the present invention provides methods and materials for identifying mammals having a colorectal neoplasm by detecting the presence of exfoliated epithelial markers (e.g., human DNA, tumor assoicated gene alterations, tumor associated proteins) and blood markers (e.g., homoglobin, serum proteins) in a stool sample obtained from the mammal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting the presence of a colorectal neoplasm in a mammal, said method comprising:
 a) obtaining a stool sample from said mammal;   b) detecting the presence or absence of one or more exfoliated epithelial markers in said stool sample, wherein the presence of one or more exfoliated epithelial markers in said stool sample is indicative of a colorectal neoplasm in said mammal; and   c) detecting the presence or absence of one or more fecal occult blood markers in said stool sample, wherein the presence of said one or more fecal occult blood markers specific for a colorectal neoplasm in said stool sample is indicative of a colorectal neoplasm in said mammal.