Expression and clinical significance of EGFR mRNA,SP-D mRNA,LUNX mRNA in peripheral blood of lung cancer patients
Objective: Using reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers specific for EGFR,SP-D and LUNX to detect circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood of non-small-cell lung cancer patients(NSCLC), and to find out the relationship between the mRNA expression and micrometastasis. Methods: The expressions of EGFR,SP-D,LUNX were analyzed by RT-PCR in 40 NSCLC tumor tissues and in peripheral blood ,compared with 15 patients with benign lung disease and 10 healthy volunteers. Results: The expressions of EGFR mRNA,SP-D mRNA,LUNX mRNA were 77.5% , 100% and 100% in 40 NSCLC tumor tissue and were 55.0%,52.5%,57.5% in peripheral blood of 40 NSCLC patients. In the control group, the expression of EGFR mRNA in 15 benign lung diseases was 13.3%. There was no expression of SP-D mRNA and LUNX mRNA in benign lung diseases. All of three mRNA were of no expression in peripheral blood of 15 patients with benign lung diseases and 10 healthy volunteers. Conclusion: EGFR mRNA,SP-D mRNA and LUNX mRNA might be specific and sensitive markers to detect circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients.