Immunochemical detection of human lactoferrin in feces as a new marker for inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders and colon cancer

Abstract We have developed a new immunochemical test for fecal lactoferrin (LF) utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA had a sensitivity of about 10 μg/L of lactoferrin and the measurable range was 10.0–1000.0 μg/L (1.0–100.0 μg LF/g feces). The stability of lactoferrin in feces was greater than that of myeloperoxidase and leucocyte elastase. The fecal concentration of lactoferrin (mean ± SD) in 35 normal subjects was 0.75 ± 0.83 μ g/g feces, whereas that in 24 patients with colon cancer was 74.4 ± 88.3 μ g/g feces. The fecal lactoferrin concentration of 38 patient with active ulcerative colitis was 307.4 ± 233.9 μ g/g feces, and that in 36 patients with active Crohn's disease was 191.7 ± 231.1 μ g/g feces. The ELISA for human fecal lactoferrin might be useful in the diagnosis of colon disease.