부산대학교 도서관

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2004.09.013 Byline: Bernd Schmidt (a), Eileen Engel (b), Tim Carstensen (a), Sabine Weickmann (b), Matthias John (a), Christian Witt (a), Michael Fleischhacker (b) Keywords: Cell-free nucleic acids; RNA isolation; Lung cancer; Early detection; Bronchial lavage Abstract: Circulating cell-free nucleic acids have been detected in serum. In cancer patients levels of free DNA seem to be higher than in non-tumor controls and the detectable nucleic acids are partly of tumor origin. We asked whether free RNA can be detected as well in cell-free bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) supernatant, and whether quantification of free RNA allows to discriminate between tumor and non-tumor patients. 73 patients with lung cancer (NSCLC n =62, SCLC n =11) and 56 patients with non-malignant lung diseases were included. The RNA was isolated from 1mL serum and lavage, respectively with the Quiamp MinElute Virus Vacuum Kit (Qiagen, Germany). A real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay was used for transcript quantification of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene. Intact RNA was detectable in cell-free supernatants of BLF from 126/129 patients and was investigated in all 64 serum samples. RNA levels were higher in the cell-free supernatant of BLF than in serum. RNA concentration in the BLF from tumor patients was higher than in patients with a benign lung disease (p =0.009). In conclusion, quantification of intact RNA isolated from BLF supernatant and from serum might become a valuable tool for differentiation between tumor and non-tumor patients. Author Affiliation: (a) Division of Pneumology, University Hospital Charite, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charite-Mitte, Schumannstr. 20-21, D-10117 Berlin, Germany (b) Division of Oncology, University Hospital Charite, Schumannstr. 20-21, D-10117 Berlin, Germany Article History: Received 20 September 2004; Accepted 27 September 2004