title: Quantitative analysis of TEM-8 and CEA tumor markers indicating free tumor cells in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common cancer in the world. Approximately in 50 percent of patients, metastatic disease is a major cause of death. Therefore, early diagnosis of CRC is crucial for a successful outcome. For the detection of circulating cancer cells, this study applied a sensitive method that employed specific tumor markers for early detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 blood samples from 40 CRC patients and 40 age-matched healthy controls were collected for the study. The circulating mRNA levels of two CRC tumor markers, tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM-8) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were evaluated using an absolute quantitative real-time PCR assay in a Stratagene Mx-3000P real-time PCR system. GAPDH was used as the endogenous control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEM-8 and CEA were primarily detected more in the CRC patients rather than in the controls: 22/40 vs 9/40, p=0.009 and 30/40 vs 11/40, p=0.00054, respectively. In the CRC patients, the mRNA level of these markers was significantly higher in comparison to the normal controls (p=0.018 and 0.01). The overall sensitivity of this panel was 65% with a specificity of 75%. Statistical analysis for demographic variants did not reach significant values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEM-8 and CEA markers were detected more frequently and in significantly higher levels in the blood samples of patients compared with samples from age-matched healthy controls. The copy number of CEA and TEM-8 mRNA, as detected by a real-time quantitative PCR, appears to be a promising marker for evaluating the risk of tumor spread.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raeisossadati
authors.forename: Moein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farshchian
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.forename: Alieza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velayati
authors.forename: Ezzat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dadkhah
authors.forename: Somaye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chavoshi
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrabi Bahar
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Memar
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rajabi Mashhadi
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naseh
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Forghanifard
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghbeli
authors.forename: Omeed
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moaven
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C473287:ANTXR1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface