[Quantification of plasma DNA as a tumor marker in patients with pancreatic cancer].
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.
Lee
Kwang Hyuck
KH
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon
Won Jae
WJ
Lee
Jun Kyu
JK
Ryu
Ji Kon
JK
Kim
Yong Tae
YT
Yoon
Yong Bum
YB
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm