OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the detection of humen-lung-specific X protein (LUNX) gene in micrometastases of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: The expression of LUNX gene in tumor tissue, lung and lymph nodes was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) both in 43 non-small-cell lung cancer patients (the experimental group) and 15 lung benign patients (the control group). LUNX mRNA expression in clinic pathology,stage of cancer cell differentiation, clinic stage, age, sex, smoking history, and 4 lung cancer blood markers (CEA,CA125,NSE, and CYFRA211) were evaluated. RESULTS: The expression of LUNX gene was positive in the 2 groups. LUNX gene expression was positive in 33 of the 87 lymph nodes of the 43 patients in the experimental group (37.93%), and in 2 of the 26 lymph nodes in the control group (7.69%). The LUNX mRNA positive in the lymph nodes was closely related to the pathological type, cancer cell differentiation and clinic stage(r=0.660,0.500,0.460; P=0.011,0.017,0.022, all P<0.05), while not closely related to age, sex, smoking history and 4 lung cancer blood markers (CEA,CA125, NSE, and CYFRA211) (r=0.111, 0.135,0.083,0.354; P=0.739,0.714,0.773,0.125,all P>0.05). CONCLUSION The LUNX mRNA expression detected by RT-PCR is more sensitive than by traditional ways. The expression of LUNX gene mRNA in the lymph nodes is a valuable index for the detection of micrometastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction