The diagnostic significance of the detection of cytokeratin 19 mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR in benign and malignant pleural effusions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic significance of detecting cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in benign and malignant pleural effusions.


METHODS
CK19 mRNA was examined by quantitative RT-PCR and CK19 was detected by Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in 32 patients with malignant pleural effusions and 35 patients with benign pleural effusions.


RESULTS
On the threshold of 200 copies/microl, the positive rate of CK19 mRNA in patients with malignant pleural effusions was 62.5%. The positive rates of CK19 mRNA and CK19 in the malignant pleural effusions were significantly higher than those in the benign group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the positive rate of CK19 mRNA was higher than that of CK19 in the malignant group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of CK19 mRNA can be a promising diagnostic marker in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusions.
Xu
Feng
F
Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China. xufeng99@yahoo.com
Chen
Jie
J
Shen
Hua-hao
HH
Wang
Xuan-ding
XD
Shan
Jiang
J
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins