Multigene Real-time PCR Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood of Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: CLCA2, HMGB3, L587S and ASH1 were identified in lung cancer tissues using genetic subtraction, microarray and quantitative PCR, and found to be specific and complementary for detection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Materials and Methods: A real-time RT-PCR assay, simultaneously detecting four genes, was developed and tested on lung cancer specimens. Results: Twenty-two out of 24 adenocarcinomas, 18/18 squamous, 4/5 large cell, 2/2 small cell and 2/2 bronchoalveolar/ neuroendocrine cancer tissue samples tested positive. Specificity was demonstrated by evaluation of 194 other tumor and corresponding normal tissues. Circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of 49/108 lung cancer patient samples tested positive, and general correlations of multigene expression signals to disease status were observed. Changes in multigene expression during treatment and disease recurrence in individual patients could be detected. Conclusion: These data indicate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of a multigene real-time RT-PCR assay to detect tumor cells in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients.