Investigating the expression level of 9-methylated septin 9 in different grades of colorectal cancer—a meta-analysis study

Abstract Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA, highlighting the urgent need for early detection. Methylated septin 9 (mSEPT9) is a promising tumor marker for CRC, offering high sensitivity for early stage detection, but its use in Asia is limited. Method We conducted a systematic review of empirical quantitative studies on mSEPT9 gene in cell-free DNA collected from plasma in CRC, following PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines, with searches yielding 1,340 records, of which 13 met our inclusion criteria. Quality was assessed using the STROBE checklist, ensuring robust data extraction and analysis. Result A total of 13 quantitative studies analyzed showed an overall positive detection rate of 66.98% for mSEPT9 as a diagnostic test for colorectal cancer, with the highest detection rate of 99.99% in Stage IV and the lowest at 51.21% in Stage I. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that mSEPT9 gene expression was a key biomarker for diagnosing and staging CRC, with higher detection rates in advanced stages, particularly Stage IV. Its role in critical signaling pathways highlights its potential for improving early detection and treatment planning in CRC patients.