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International Journal of Clinical Oncology

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01-06-2013 | Original Article

Circulating cell-free human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in plasma and its potential diagnostic and prognostic value for gastric cancer

Authors: Yi Kang, Jiancheng Zhang, Peichun Sun, Jia Shang

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Background

Our aims were to detect circulating cell-free human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in the plasma of gastric cancer patients and evaluate its potential diagnostic and prognostic value.

Methods

Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect circulating cell-free hTERT mRNA from 118 gastric cancer patients, 40 chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients, and 58 healthy controls.

Results

Circulating cell-free hTERT mRNA was detected in all gastric cancer patients, 39 (97.5 %) CAG patients and 56 (96.6 %) healthy control individuals, respectively. However, it was higher in gastric cancer than in CAG and healthy controls (all at P < 0.05). Moreover, its high level was significantly correlated with clinical stages (P < 0.001) and lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.001). There was no difference between circulating cell-free mRNA and other parameters. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.891, and the optimal cut-off point was 0.18, providing a sensitivity of 66 % and a specificity of 87 %. The ROC analysis showed that the diagnosis capability of circulating cell-free mRNA was statistically significantly higher than that of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), alone [CEA (0.656); CA19-9 (0.722)] or in combination (0.756). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a correlation between increased circulating cell-free hTERT mRNA and reduced disease-free survival (P < 0.001) and overall survival (P < 0.001). Cox analysis indicated that it was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival.

Conclusions

We concluded that circulating cell-free hTERT mRNA might serve as a potential and useful noninvasive tumor marker for gastric cancer.

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Title: Circulating cell-free human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in plasma and its potential diagnostic and prognostic value for gastric cancer
Authors: Yi Kang
Jiancheng Zhang
Peichun Sun
Jia Shang
Publication date: 01-06-2013
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1341-9625
Electronic ISSN: 1437-7772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-012-0405-9

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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