Representative image of LEBS peak from intact rat tissue.

<p>LEBS images show the different parameters (E, W & S) calculated from this peak and the scheme for calculation of LEBS marker using logistic regression of LEBS parameters by linear combination.</p

Clustergram for 9 rats (four saline and five AOM) showing the fold up- or down-regulation of genes involved in cytoskeleton regulation.

<p>The alterations in cytoskeletal gene regulation of precancerous (AOM-treated) rat cells compared to control (saline-treated) rat cells suggest possible involvement of the cytoskeleton in determining the structural differences measured by LEBS (Fig. 2).</p

Structural Changes from intact colon tissue are partially from colon cells. a,b)

<p>The LEBS marker is altered in the intact AOM-treated rat tissue and in isolated colonocytes as compared to saline-treated rats, demonstrating differences in micro- and nano-architecture that can be captured with the LEBS technique. The magnitude of the alteration in the LEBS marker is higher for intact tissue compared to colonocytes. <b>c,d)</b> The effect size (2.c.) and delta (2.d.) between AOM-treated and saline-treated rats are higher for intact tissue than for isolated colonocytes. Because colonocytes are part of the intact tissue, this result suggests that colonocytes are partially responsible for differences in LEBS marker from intact tissue.</p

MicroRNA modulation in colonic biopsies of AOM rats at a premalignant (16 wk) stage.

<p>N.S.: Non-Significant, N/A: Non-Applicable.</p

MicroRNA modulation in premalignant 16 wk miRNA predicts future neoplasia development.

<p>MicroRNA analysis was done on colonic biopsies from AOM rats at a preneoplastic (16 wk) time point. The rats were followed for 40 weeks and separated as tumor bearing and non-bearing AOM rats. The miRNA expression at the premalignant stage (16 wk) was then compared between the control rats and the AOM rats which eventually developed tumors or remained non-tumor bearing. *: p<0.05 when compared to normal saline controls. Specific p values are given in which AOM rats without tumors are compared to AOM rats with tumors.</p

Confirmation of selected miRNA panel in AOM rat uninvolved colonic mucosa at neoplastic (40wk) stage.

<p>Confirmation of selected miRNA panel in AOM rat uninvolved colonic mucosa at neoplastic (40wk) stage.</p

A: Hierarchical clustering of DCt values of differentially regulated miRNAs in the uninvolved colonic mucosa of AOM rat.

<p><b>B:</b> Differentially expressed miRNAs in the AOM rat uninvolved colonic mucosa. Fold change was calculated as Log10 of Relative Quantitation.</p

A: Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining of the fecal colonocytes isolated from rat stool.

<p><b>B:</b> Differentially expressed miRNAs in the fecal colonocytes obtained from tumor bearing and tumor non-bearing AOM rats. *: p<0.05. Specific p values are given in which AOM rats without tumors are compared to AOM rats with tumors.</p