title: [Analysis of circulating DNA level in the plasma of cervical cancer patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the plasma DNA level and investigate its clinicopathological significance in women with cervical cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 42 cervical cancer patients, 20 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CINIII) and 20 healthy women. The plasma DNA was extracted using a commercial kit and detected by a fluorescentmeter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma DNA level in stage I cervical cancer patients was 12.78-/+5.58 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in CINIII patients (8.10-/+3.06 ng/ml) and normal controls (7.60-/+3.87 ng/ml) (P=0.001). The mean DNA level in stage II-III patients was 17.99-/+7.81 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in stage I patients (P=0.02). No significant difference was found in plasma DNA level between CINIII patients and the normal controls (P>0.05). When the cut-off for diagnosis of cervical cancer was 15.70 ng/ml, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 38.10%, 92.50%, 84.21% and 58.73%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma DNA level is closely related with malignant transformation and development of cervical cancer, and may become a useful means for differential diagnosis of cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Xin-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chang-lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yue-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm