Detection of a long non-coding RNA (CCAT1) in living cells and human adenocarcinoma of colon tissues using FIT-PNA molecular beacons

► Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). ► Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) probes detect a lncRNA. ► Colon cancer associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) is a lncRNA highly expressed in CRC. ► Detection of CCAT1 is achieved in non-fixed cells and in human biopsies.