Materials and methods for determining cancer risk

Abstract

This document relates to materials and methods involved in assessing inflammatory bowel disease patients at risk for developing cancer. For example, materials and methods for monitoring colorectal cancer risk in ulcerative colitis patients are provided.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for conducting a beneficial colonoscopy and biopsy surveillance regimen on a human diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, wherein said method comprises:
 (a) detecting the presence of hypermethylated RUNX3 nucleic acid by performing a methylation specific polymerase chain reaction, using nucleic acid obtained from a colon sample of said human and treated with bisulfite, and   (b) conducting more frequent colonoscopy and biopsy surveillance on said human than surveillance colonoscopy and biopsy every year based at least in part on said presence of said hypermethylated RUNX3 nucleic acid.   
     
     
         3 . A method for conducting a beneficial colonoscopy and biopsy surveillance regimen, wherein said method comprises conducting more frequent colonoscopy and biopsy surveillance on a human that was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and was identified as having the presence of hypermethylated RUNX3 nucleic acid by the performance of a methylation specific polymerase chain reaction, using nucleic acid obtained from a colon sample of said human and treated with bisulfite.