Blood Sample Analysis: New Insights Into Colorectal Cancer Risks

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Gangnam Severance Hospital and Asan Medical Center have uncovered promising findings regarding colorectal cancer. A single blood sample taken before surgery may help in identifying patients at a higher risk of recurrence or metastasis.

Metabolic Network in Cancer Progression

The study focused on metabolic changes in the bloodstream as colorectal cancer progresses. Rather than measuring individual amino acid levels, researchers looked at interactions between these molecules, forming a metabolic network. This approach offers deeper insights into cancer progression compared to traditional methods based solely on individual amino acid measurements.

Importance of Amino Acids

Cancer cells require significant nutrients to grow and divide. Amino acids play a key role in protein synthesis, energy production, and DNA formation. Previous studies mostly measured concentrations of individual amino acids. However, the new research analyzed relationships among 18 amino acids using fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Findings of Amino Acid Network

The team observed changes in the amino acid network as colorectal cancer advanced. Notable shifts included decreased prominence of branched-chain amino acids like valine and leucine, while glycine and serine became more significant. Glycine, crucial for DNA synthesis, showed increased abundance in the bloodstream during cancer progression.

Machine-Learning Model

A machine-learning model using amino acid interaction features demonstrated superior performance in identifying patients with recurrence or metastasis compared to traditional models. Combining carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with amino acid levels and interaction patterns enhanced prediction accuracy.

Potential for Precision Medicine

Professor Ji Min Lee emphasized hopes that this approach could lead to precision medicine technologies, enabling more accurate predictions of recurrence risk from blood samples alone. Personalized treatment strategies may become more viable as a result.

Future Validation Needed

“The results are intriguing but require validation in larger studies,” said Dr. Michael F. Driscoll, director of the Gastrointestinal Malignancy Program at Norton Healthcare.

Driscoll highlighted the challenge of widespread adoption due to insurance coverage considerations, with many tests deemed experimental. Currently, CT-DNA is the most sensitive test for predicting recurrence in gastrointestinal oncology.

Next Steps for Research

Although not ready for clinical use yet, these findings suggest circulating amino acids’ interactions might serve as promising biomarkers for tracking colorectal cancer progression.

Reference: Co-first authors include Ji-Yeon Lee and Dr. Jumi Kim. Professors Ji Min Lee and Hyunwoo Kim of KAIST, alongside Professor Eun Jung Park, contributed as co-corresponding authors. The study, published online in Advanced Science on June 9, 2026, carries the DOI: 10.1002/advs.76044.