title: Molecular detection and prognostic value of epithelial markers mRNA expression in peripheral blood of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies, have evaluated the prognostic impact of the quantification of mRNA expression levels in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to quantify mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood through three epithelial markers in patients with stages IIIB and IV in NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy advanced NSCLC patients and ten healthy controls were included. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy in first line treatment. Peripheral blood was obtained of each participant and mRNA expression levels present in circulating cells were quantified by molecular techniques (RT-PCR) using three epithelial markers: cytokeratin (CK)-18, CK-19 and Carcinoembryonic-Antigen (CEA). The expression levels were quantified from a standard curve using the cDNA obtained from A549 cells. Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01052818).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant statistical correlation between levels of CK-18, CK-19 and CEA mRNA. mRNA expression levels were lower in patients who present three or less metastasis; higher CEA mRNA expression was associated a worse progression-free survival to platinum-based chemotherapy and overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RNA expression of CEA by RT-PCR is useful as a prognostic marker in advanced NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INcan), Mexico City, Mexico Experimental Oncology Laboratory, INCan, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arrieta
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Benjamín
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Experimental Oncology Laboratory, INCan, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Saé
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñiz-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INcan), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ordóñez
authors.affiliation: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oncology, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Borbolla-Escoboza
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INcan), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Cytokeratins; carcinoembryonic-antigen; circulating tumor cells; lung cancer; prognosis