title: [Quantification of plasma DNA as a tumor marker in patients with pancreatic cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The plasma DNA concentration of patients with cancer is known to be higher than normal controls. Increased DNA concentration and tumor-specific genes in plasma can be used as tumor markers in some cancers. This study was designed to evaluate whether quantification of plasma DNA concentration by using real-time PCR is useful as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients (M:F=16:8, mean age; 60.5+/-11.5 years) with pancreatic cancer were recruited for this study. Fifteen patients with chronic pancreatitis and fifteen healthy persons were selected as controls (M:F=26:4, 53.5+/-11.2 years). The concentration of plasma DNA was determined by real-time PCR for telomerase reverse transcriptase gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma DNA concentration in patients with pancreatic cancer (46.4+/-63.2 ng/mL) was higher than that of chronic pancreatitis (p=0.041) and normal controls (p=0.030). The sensitivity and specificity in detecting pancreatic cancer were 75% and 70% respectively when the cut-off value of plasma DNA concentration was set at 46.9 ng/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma DNA concentration in patients with pancreatic cancer was higher than that of controls. However, its sensitivity and specificity is not high enough to be used as a tumor marker for pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Hyuck
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jun Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Kon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yong Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm