الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (CRC) ranks third among all cancers in prevalence and mortality rate worldwide. U snRNAs are well recognised to contribute to tumour initiation, progression, and metastasis. Serum levels of RNU2-1 have been shown to be significantly higher in individuals with a variety of malignancies, including lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and metastatic melanoma. U2 snRNA fragment may have a role in CRC, however its significance has not yet been determined..
Accordingly, this work aimed to investigate the association between plasma U2 snRNA fragments, and CRC in a cohort of Egyptian patients.
This study was conducted on 25 newly diagnosed primary CRC patients who were recruited from Surgery Department of Alexandria Main University Hospital and 25 age and sex-matched healthy controls.
In the current study, U2 snRNA ranged from 1.21 to 31.49 with a median of 7.5, while in the control group it ranged from 0.46 to 2.47 with a median of 0.87. plasma U2 snRNA statically significantly higher in cancer patients compared with the control group (p<0.001). At cut-off value of >1.84, U2 snRNA had 92% sensitivity, 80% specificity, 82.1% PPV, and 90.9% NPP. The AUC value was 0.978. Additionally, we found a significant positive correlation between U2 snRNA and CEA (p=0.036).
In the current study, there were no statistically significant differences as regards age and sex between CRC patients and controls.
Based on radiological examination in our study, tumors were located in the proximal colon distal colon, and rectum representing 56%, 40%, and 4%, respectively.
Based on the TNM staging system of the AJCC, he majority of patients were stage III (44%). According to WHO histological grading, the most common tumor grade was tumor grade II in 17 patients (78%). Lymph vascular infiltration was detected in 7 patients (28%).
Hemoglobin was significantly lower in the patients group than in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between patients and controls as regards renal and liver function tests,
In the current study, CEA was significantly higher in CRC patients (5.23 ng/Ml) compared with the control group (4.7 ng/mL) (p=0.002). While as regards serum CA19-9, there were no statistically significant differences between both groups as regards CA19-9 (p=0.337).