[Detection of micrometastasis in mediastinal lymph nodes in operable non-small cell lung cancers].
OBJECTIVE
Using the LUNX-mRNA as a marker and RT-PCR technique to assess mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with operable NSCLC, to evaluate at gene level the feasibility of this method in detection of micrometastasis in NSCLC and the necessity of systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy during surgery.


METHODS
Twenty patients with operable NSCLC were involved in this study. The mediastinal lymph nodes were taken during operation. RT-PCR assay was carried out to detect the LUNX-mRNA. Ten cases with benign lung disease were assayed by the same method as control.


RESULTS
Seventy one mediastinal lymph nodes were obtained from 20 patients, 8 (11.3%) of which showed histologically metastasis with HE staining, while 23 (32.4%) were LUNX-mRNA positive by RT-PCR, P < 0.001. Micrometastasis was detected in 25.4% of all lymph nodes. LUNX-mRNA was found to be positive in 23.6% of lymph nodes from 15 patients with stage I A-II B NSCLC compared with 62.5% from 5 patients with stage III NSCLC, with a significant difference (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
About 25.4% of mediastinal lymph nodes are with micrometastasis in patients with operable NSCLC. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy is necessary to deal with the regional lymph nodes during surgery.
Yang
Hao-xian
HX
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Disease Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Wu
Yi-long
YL
Ding
Jia-an
JA
Jiang
Ge-ning
GN
Zhou
Xiao
X
Chen
Chang
C
Gao
Wen
W
Chen
Gang
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
C485599:BPIFA1 protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger