title: Plasma cell-free DNA levels and integrity in patients with chest radiological findings: NSCLC versus benign lung nodules.
abstract: Effective discrimination between lung cancer and benign tumours is a common clinical problem in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules. The analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood may greatly aid the early detection of lung cancer by evaluating cancer-related alterations. The plasma cfDNA levels and integrity were analysed in 65 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, 28 subjects with benign lung tumours, and 16 healthy controls using real-time PCR. The NSCLC patients demonstrated significantly higher mean plasma cfDNA levels compared with those with benign tumours (P = 0.0009) and healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The plasma cfDNA integrity in healthy individuals was significantly different than that found in patients with NSCLC or benign lung tumours (P < 0.0003). In ROC curve analysis, plasma cfDNA levels >2.8 ng/ml provided 86.4% sensitivity and 61.4% specificity in discriminating NSCLC from benign lung pathologies and healthy controls. cfDNA integrity showed better discriminatory power (91% sensitivity, 68.2% specificity). These data demonstrate that plasma cfDNA concentration and integrity analyses can significantly differentiate between NSCLC and benign lung tumours. The diagnostic capacity of the quantitative cfDNA assay is comparable to the values presented by conventional imaging modalities used in clinical practice.
authors: Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland. Electronic address: a.szpechcinski@igichp.edu.pl.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Szpechcinski
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Rudzinski
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
authors: Wlodzimierz
authors: W
authors: Kupis
authors: Department of Pathomorphology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Langfort
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
authors: Tadeusz
authors: T
authors: Orlowski
authors: Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, 26 Plocka St., Warsaw 01-138, Poland.
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Chorostowska-Wynimko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D011859:Radiography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm
keywords: Benign lung nodules; Cell-free DNA; Concentration; Integrity; Non-small cell lung cancer; Plasma