title: Aberrant expression of E-cadherin in lung tissues of patients with probable lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the relationship of E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression with the diagnosis of lung cancer with the aim of providing an auxiliary diagnostic method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-quantitative nested RT-PCR and western blotting were applied to detect E-cadherin mRNA transcripts and protein, respectively, in 30 cases of diagnostic lung cancer, 30 cases of clinically suspected patients with lung cancer and 30 cases of other disease. Immunohistochemical staining was also used to detect E-cadherin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remarkably decreased levels of relative E-cadherin mRNA value and increased E-cadherin protein negativity were observed in probable lung cancer, when compared with possible lung cancer and others. With a threshold of 1.45, relative E-cadherin mRNA value showed a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 83% for the diagnosis of lung cancer. The combination of decreased relative E-cadherin mRNA value and negative E-cadherin protein increased the specificity and sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that Chinese patients with diagnostic lung cancer have similar decreased levels of relative E-cadherin mRNA and E-cadherin protein value in the lung cancer tissues as in lung cancer patients in other countries. Measurement of relative E-cadherin mRNA and protein values in lung cancer tissues has potential for lung cancer diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gui-Fang
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Ai-Guo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger