Detection And Significance Of LUNX MRNA In Regional Lymph Nodes Of Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer By RT-PCR

Objective:To detect of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) micrometastases in regional lymphatic nodes by using Lunx mRNA specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). It can evaluate an gene level the feasibility of this method in detection of micrometastases in NSCLC and the necessity of systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy during surgery.Methods:RT-PCR was used to detect Lunx mRNA from 87 regional lymphatic nodes obtained from 43 patients with NSCLC who underwent curative lobectomy. All the 87 regional lymphatic nodes were also examined by histopathology.15 cases with benign lung disease were assayed by the same method as control.Results:Among the 87 lymphatic nodes from 43 NSCLC patients, positive Lunx mRNA expression was detected in 33 lymphatic nodes (37.9%) by RT-PCR (P<0.05). The expression of Lunx mRNA was significantly higher in the regional lymphatic nodes of NSCLC than in that of benign lung diseases. Compared with conventional pathological method, RT-PCR had superior sensitivity. The positive rate of Lunx mRNA in lymphatic nodes increases along with the stage of TNM.Conclusion:The results suggest that the detection of Lunx mRNA by RT-PCR might be helpful to diagnose NSCLC micrometastases in lymphatic nodes. The establishment of this method may lead to earlier diagnoses of metastasis of NSCLC and treatment of patients with subclinical metastases in regional lymphatic nodes.