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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Detection of erbB2 copy number variations in plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma

Authors: Immacolata Andolfo, Giuseppe Petrosino, Loredana Vecchione, Pasqualino De Antonellis, Mario Capasso, Donatella Montanaro, Marica Gemei, Giancarlo Troncone, Achille Iolascon, Michele Orditura, Fortunato Ciardiello, Fernando De Vita, Massimo Zollo

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Mortality is high in patients with esophageal carcinoma as tumors are rarely detected before the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Here, we sought to isolate cell-free DNA released into the plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma, to analyze copy number variations of marker genes in the search for early detection of tumor progression.

Methods

Plasma of 41 patients with esophageal carcinoma was prospectively collected before tumor resection and chemotherapy. Our dataset resulted heterogeneous for clinical data, resembling the characteristics of the tumor. DNA from the plasma was extracted to analyze copy number variations of the erbB2 gene using real-time PCR assays.

Results

The real-time PCR assays for erbB2 gene showed significant (P = 0.001) copy number variations in the plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma, as compared to healthy controls with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (95%). These variations in erbB2 were negatively correlated to the progression free survival of these patients (P = 0.03), and revealed a further risk category stratification of patients with low VEGF expression levels.

Conclusion

The copy number variation of erbB2 gene from plasma can be used as prognostic marker for early detection of patients at risk of worse clinical outcome in esophageal cancer.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Detection of erbB2 copy number variations in plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma
Authors
Immacolata Andolfo
Giuseppe Petrosino
Loredana Vecchione
Pasqualino De Antonellis
Mario Capasso
Donatella Montanaro
Marica Gemei
Giancarlo Troncone
Achille Iolascon
Michele Orditura
Fortunato Ciardiello
Fernando De Vita
Massimo Zollo
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-11-126

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