The Clinical Significance Of Detection Of Specific CK 20 MRNA In Peripheral Venous Blood From Patients With Carcinoma Of Large Intestine

Objective: To determine the diagnostic significance of detecting thespecific epithelial keratin CK20 mRNA in peripheral venous blood frompatients with carcinoma of large intestineMethods: Reverse transcription coupled with two-step polymerasechain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was used to detect CK20 mRNA expressionin the peripheral blood from patients with carcinoma of large intestineResults: Detection of CK20 mRNA expression was positive in 37 of91 patients with carcinoma of large intestine (41%). Among 20 patients withdistant metastasis, 20 were positive (100%). CK20 mRNA was not detectablein the blood samples from 25 normal individuals. The frequency of positiveCK20 mRNA expression was signficantly higher in those with distantmetastasis.Conclusions: The presence of CK20 mRNA expression in peripheralblood may be used as an early indicator of hematogenous metastasis ofcarcinoma of large intestine cells.