Molecular detection of cancer cells by RT-PCR

1.应用PT-PCR方法检测了癌胚抗原（CEA）、雌激素受体（ER）和法师（MAGE）在乳腺癌组织和正常组织中的mRNA表达。ER在1/3的样本中可检测到。法师在正常上皮组织中不表达，但在10-60%的肿瘤组织中表达。结果表明，CEA为最佳靶基因。2.组织学检查的阳性检出率由20%提高到RT-PCR的60%，两项检查均阳性的37例复发率为35%，组织学阴性但RT-PCR阳性的47例复发率为8%。两项检测均阴性的18例患者中无一例。3.外周血CEA mRNA阳性检出率随疾病分期的进展而增高。62例根治性手术病例中12例CEA mRNA阳性。12例患者中4例术后发生转移，50例RT-PCR阴性患者均未发生转移。4. RT-PCR是检测淋巴结或外周血CEA mRNA的有效工具。这对于确定转移的高风险患者可能非常有用。

1.We analyzed the mRNA expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), estrogen receptor (ER) and MAGE in tumor and normal epithelial tissues by means of PT-PCR.CEA was detectable in almost all tumor and normal epithelial tissues. ER was detectable in 1/3 of the samples. MAGE was not expressed in normal epithelial tissues, but was expressed in 10-60% tumor tissues. The results indicated that the best target gene was CEA.2.The positive detection rate increased from 20% by histologic examination to 60% by RT-PCR.The recurrence rate was 35% in 37 cases showing positive results in both examinations, 8% in 47 cases showing histologically negative but RT-PCR positive results, and none in 18 cases showing negative results in both examinations.3.The positive detection rate for CEA mRNA in peripheral blood samples increased with advancing stage of disease. With respect to 62 curatively operated cases, CEA mRNA was detected in 12 cases. Four of these 12 cases developed metastatic disease after surgery whereas none of 50 cases negative by RT-PCR developed metastasis.4.It has been shown that RT-PCR is a powerful tool to detect CEA mRNA in the lymph nodes or the peripheral blood. This is potentially very useful to determine high-risk patients for metastasis.