Expression and clinical significance of lung-specific X protein mRNA in bronchial brushing specimens from patients with or without lung cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of lung-specific X protein (LUNX) mRNA expression in bronchial brushing specimens from patients with lung cancer.

METHODS:

LUNX mRNA levels were assessed by performing RT-PCR on liquid-based cytology bronchial brushing specimens from patients with lung cancer (n=104) or benign lung disease (n=91).

RESULTS:

  LUNX mRNA expression was significantly more frequent in patients with all carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, as well as patients with central, peripheral and diffuse carcinomas (P<0.01), and non-small cell lung carcinomas (P<0.05) compared with patients with benign disease. The diagnostic performance of RT-PCR analysis of LUNX mRNA was significantly better than that of cytology in terms of sensitivity (93.3±4.8% vs 64.4±9.2%), negative predictive value (91.6±6.0% vs 71.1±7.9%) and accuracy (88.7±4.4% vs 81.0±5.5%), whereas specificity (83.5±7.6%) and positive predictive value (86.6±6.3%) were lower than those of cytology (100%).

CONCLUSIONS:

  Liquid-based cytology and RT-PCR can be performed to detect LUNX mRNA expression in bronchial brushing specimens, and this technique may be a useful adjunct to cytological diagnosis of lung cancer. The sensitivity of the technique was greater than that of cytology but its lower specificity should be taken into account.

• Authors: Ming Lv, Ming-Zhe Wu, Yu-Jie Zhao, D I Yang, En-Hua Wang, Guang-Ping Wu
• Journal: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) (Respirology) Vol. 16 Issue 7 Pg. 1076-80 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1440-1843 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 21651644 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors. Respirology © 2011 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.

Chemical References

• BPIFA1 protein, human
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Glycoproteins
• Phosphoproteins
• RNA, Messenger

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Bronchoscopy
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (diagnosis, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Glycoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (diagnosis, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phosphoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction