Usefulness of melanoma antigen (MAGE) gene analysis in tissue samples from percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy of suspected lung cancer lesions.
BACKGROUND
As mortality from lung cancer is still very high, early detection prior to metastasis is important in clinical settings. We prospectively evaluated the clinical usefulness of a reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) using melanoma antigen (MAGE) A1-6 genes with tissue samples obtained from the percutaneous needle aspiration (PCNA) biopsies used in the diagnosis of lung cancer.


METHODS
We enrolled 53 patients with suspected lung cancer based on CT scan (M:F, 39:14; mean age 61 years). A PCNA biopsy was performed twice and lung cancer was diagnosed by a pathological examination. The MAGE genes were analyzed using RT-nested PCR from tissue samples obtained from the PCNA biopsy of the lesion. We compared the results from the RT-nested PCR and the pathologic diagnosis. We also analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).


RESULTS
Of the 53 patients, 39 were diagnosed with lung cancer. Six patients had tuberculosis and 8 were confirmed with chronic inflammation or benign lesion. Based on the RT-nested PCR examination, 41 of 53 patients were positive for the MAGE gene: 34 of 39 patients had lung cancer; 5 of 6 patients had tuberculosis; and 2 of 8 patients had chronic inflammation or benign lesion. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV were 83%, 58%, 77%, 87% and 55%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MAGE gene analysis by RT-nested PCR may be a useful method for the diagnosis of lung cancer, but it is still limited in patients with tuberculosis.
Kim
Hana
H
Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Health System, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Sang Jin
SJ
Lee
Sun-Hwa
SH
Seong
Hye Soon
HS
Lee
Kyung-Ok
KO
Jeon
Chang-Ho
CH
Hong
Yoo Jin
YJ
Lee
Sang Min
SM
Kim
Tae Hoon
TH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm