Detection of surfactant protein-A gene transcript in the cells from pleural effusion for the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether detecting surfactant protein-A (SP-A) gene transcript in the cells from pleural effusion is useful for the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
We performed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of SP-A gene transcript in the cells of pleural effusion from 42 consecutive patients with pleural effusion, including 7 patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma before their treatments.


RESULTS
A cDNA segment of SP-A was amplified from the pleural fluid cells of all patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma, indicating the presence of the SP-A gene transcript. None of the remaining patients, including those with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, showed positive for the SP-A gene transcript.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that RT-PCR analysis of the SP-A gene transcript in pleural effusion is useful for the diagnosis of primary lung adenocarcinoma.
Saitoh
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Shimura
S
S
Fushimi
T
T
Okayama
H
H
Shirato
K
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000235:genetics*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase