[Clinical significance of CEA mRNA detection in pleural and peritoneal effusions by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR].
OBJECTIVE
To detect CEA mRNA levels in benign and malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions and evaluate their clinical significance.


METHODS
Samples of pleural and peritoneal effusions from 58 patients with malignant diseases and 76 patients with benign diseases were collected and total RNAs were prepared and subjected to real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR to determine the CEA mRNA levels in these samples. The positive rate of this examination was compared with that of shed cell pathological examination.


RESULTS
Nineteen samples (32.8%) of pleural and peritoneal effusions from the 58 patients with malignant diseases showed positive results in shed cell examination, while the number of CEA mRNA >1 CN was 46 (79.3%) (chi(2) = 21.81, P = 0.000). Nineteen samples of pleural and peritoneal effusions from the 76 patients with benign diseases showed CEA mRNA > 1 CN (25.0%), which was significantly different from that of the patients with malignant diseases (chi(2) = 38.85, P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
CEA mRNA levels in pleural and peritoneal effusions can be quantified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, which is more sensitive than shed cell pathological examination. This technique is helpful in discrimination of benign and malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions.
Zhang
Xing
X
Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Cao
Jiang
J
Zheng
Shu
S
Li
Xu-fen
XF
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger