International Journal of Molecular Medical Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 274-292 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmms 274 Feature Review Open Access The Role of Multi-Omics Data Integration in Identifying Early Colon Cancer Biomarkers Shufeng Han 1,2, Shipeng Shang1 1 Clinical Research Center (CRC), Medical Pathology Center (MPC), Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Center (CEDTC) and Translational Medicine Research Center (TMRC), Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 408099, Chongqing, China. 2 School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266073, Shangdong, China Corresponding author: shangsp@cqu.edu.cn International Journal of Molecular Medical Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/ijmms.2024.14.0029 Received: 26 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 02 Sep., 2024 Published: 15 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Han and Shang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Han S.F., and Shang S.P., 2024, The role of multi-omics data integration in identifying early colon cancer biomarkers, International Journal of Molecular Medical Science, 14(5): 274-292 (doi: 10.5376/ijmms.2024.14.0029) Abstract The integration of multi-omics data has emerged as a powerful approach to identify early biomarkers for colon cancer, offering a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression. This study explores the methodologies and applications of multi-omics data integration in cancer research. By combining genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenomics, researchers can uncover novel biomarkers that are crucial for early diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized treatment of colon cancer. The study highlights various computational tools and frameworks that have been developed to facilitate the integration of diverse omics data types, emphasizing their effectiveness in improving the accuracy of cancer biomarker identification. Additionally, this study discusses the challenges and future directions in the field, aiming to provide a roadmap for translating multi-omics discoveries into clinical practice. The integration of multi-omics data not only enhances our understanding of cancer biology but also holds promise for the development of precision medicine strategies tailored to individual patients. Keywords Colon cancer; Multi-omics; Data integration; Biomarkers; Early diagnosis; Prognosis; Precision medicine 1 Introduction Colon cancer remains a significant global health challenge, being one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies has enabled the generation of vast amounts of omics data, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These multi-omics datasets provide a comprehensive view of the molecular underpinnings of cancer, offering unprecedented opportunities for biomarker discovery and personalized medicine (Tong et al., 2020a; Chai et al., 2021; Li et al., 2022). Traditional single-omics approaches often fall short in capturing the complexity of cancer biology, as they provide a limited perspective on cellular functions. Integrating multi-omics data can overcome these limitations by offering a holistic view of the molecular interactions and pathways involved in cancer progression (Zhao et al., 2020; Menyhárt and Győrffy, 2021). This integrative approach has shown promise in improving the accuracy of cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and subtype classification, thereby enhancing the potential for early detection and targeted therapies (Figure 1) (Tong et al., 2020b; Yin et al., 2020; Li and Sun, 2022). This study aims to explore the role of multi-omics data integration in identifying early biomarkers for colon cancer and to provide a comprehensive understanding of how multi-omics data integration can revolutionize the early detection and treatment of colon cancer, ultimately contributing to better patient outcomes and personalized healthcare strategies. 2 Colon Cancer: An Overview Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It originates in the colon or rectum and is often grouped together due to their similar characteristics. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be approximately 106 590 new cases of colon cancer and 46 220 new cases of rectal cancer in the U.S., with an estimated total of 53 010
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