[Detecting MUC-1 mRNA for diagnosing peripheral blood micro-metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
Mucins, including MUC-1, are generally considered to be products of epithelial tissues and epithelial tumors. Theoretically, MUC-1 mRNA in peripheral blood with interstitial origin indicates metastasis. This study was to explore the feasibility of MUC-1 mRNA as a molecular marker in detecting peripheral blood micro-metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect MUC-1 gene expression in peripheral blood samples from 60 patients with NSCLC, 15 patients with benign pulmonary disease, and 20 healthy subjects. MUC-1 gene expression in K562 and HL-60 cells with non-epithelial origin, and A549 and MCF-7 cells with epithelial origin was also detected by nested RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The positive rates of MUC-1 mRNA were 80.0% in NSCLC group, 60.0% in benign pulmonary disease group, and 65.0% in healthy group. MUC-1 mRNA was also detected in K562, HL-60, A549 and MCF-7 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
MUC-1 mRNA can not be a reliable detection marker for peripheral blood micro-metastasis in NSCLC patients.
Liu
Xiao-Qing
XQ
Department of Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan, 650118, P. R. China.
Ren
Hong-Xuan
HX
Wu
Zhi-Ping
ZP
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018396:Mucin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger