title: Role of circulating free alu DNA in endometrial cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common cancer of the female genital tract. However, no screening method for EC has been established yet. In this study, we evaluated the cell-free DNA in EC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy individuals, 9 with benign gynecologic diseases, and 53 with ECs were included in this study. Alu sequences in free DNA fragments were used as surrogate markers, and cell-free DNA density was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cell-free DNA levels in ECs tended to be higher than in benign condition (healthy individuals + benign gynecologic diseases, n = 24; P = 0.095). There was no significant difference in cell-free DNA among stage or histological grade of EC, and no significant change in cell-free DNA before and after operation (P = 0.25): Moreover, in 19 ECs, cell-free DNA decreased after operation, however, in 6 ECs, cell-free DNA did not decrease. Three ECs recurred, and cell-free DNA did not decrease in these cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of cell-free DNA is not useful for EC screening; however, the change of cell-free DNA in a patient may be a prognostic biomarker of EC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Sadako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiyoda
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Susumu
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020087:Alu Elements; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004247:DNA