New Opportunities for Colorectal Cancer Diagnostics Using an Optical Cell Detection System Based on Dielectrophoresis

The possibilities of using electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) of different stages were demonstrated using optical cell detection system based on the dielectrophoresis method. The deformation amplitude, portion of deformed cells, generalized viscosity, rigidity, equilibrium frequency position, and electrical conductivity were the most significant parameters for determining patients with CRC, as well as early and late stages, included in the created model of a riskometer for the disease diagnosis. The created diagnostic “panels” with a high diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity allowed to one determine patients with CRC (specificity 0.91, sensitivity 0.96), as well as early and late stages of the disease (specificity 0.64, sensitivity 0.86).