title: Expression of seven stem-cell-associated markers in human airway biopsy specimens obtained via fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports have suggested that malignant transformations originate from adult stem cells, and may thus express the stem-cell-associated markers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential expression and clinical significance of seven stem-cell-associated markers (Bmi1, CD133, CD44, Sox2, Nanog, OCT4 and Msi2) in lung cancer, providing new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we evaluated the differential expression of mRNA levels seven stem-cell-associated markers by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from 112 human lung cancer and 18 non-cancer tissues obtained by bronchoscopy. We further verified the differential expression of these markers by immunohistochemistry in 50 lung cancer specimens, 30 benign inflammatory lesion tissues and 20 non-tumor adjacent lung tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of OCT4, other markers Bmi1, CD133, CD44, Sox2, Nanog and Msi2 mRNA and protein were abundantly expressed in lung cancer. Additionally, Nanog expression was highly upregulated in lung cancer tissues and rarely presented in non-cancerous lung tissues, the sensitivity and specificity of Nanog mRNA reached 63.4% and 66.7%, respectively. Nanog therefore possessed high diagnostic value, however, CD44, Bmi1 and CD133 showed poor diagnostic value in lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nanog may serve as a promising diagnostic marker of lung cancer and potential therapeutic target in lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Diseases, Guilin Medical University Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Laodong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Dangyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jingyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Changming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Biwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger