Expression of LUNX and CK19 in non-small cell lung cancer and its significance

Background and purpose:Conventional cytology is valuable in diagnosing the cancer cells in lymph nodes of patients with lung cancer. However , the diagnostic value of detecting lymph node and paracancer micrometastasis was limited. Our study was to investigate the mRNA expression level of lung specif ic X protein(LUNX) and cytokeratin 19(CK19) and its signifi cance in the carcinogenesis,metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC. Methods: Quantitative analysis with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(Real-Time RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression level of LUNX and CK19 in 20 tumor tissues and 42 regional lymph nodes from 20 patients with NSCLC, and 6 lymph nodes from 9 patients with pulmonary benign diseases as control. Meanwhile, all lymph nodes were also examined by conventional pathological method. Results:①the mRNA level of Lunxin in cancer Tissue was signifi cantly higher than that in the control group, but there was no association with Lymphatic Metastasis,Tumor Size and TNM grade.②the mRNA level of Lunx in the cancer Tissues was signif icantly higher than that in the control group, and was associated with Lymphatic Metastasis,Tumor Size and TNM grade.③the mRNA of CK19 in lymph nodes was almost the same as control, and not associated with tumor size,lymphatic metastasis and TNM grade.④the mRNA of LUNX in lymph nodes was almost the same as control, which has no acossiation with lymphatic metastasis,tumor size and TNM grade.⑤ mRNA of CK19 and LUNX was unrelated to age,sex and histological type .⑥there was signifi cant difference between using Real-Time RT-PCR methods and the routine pathological methods to detect lymph node metastasis in lung cancer. Conclusion:This result suggested that the detection of LUNX message RNA and CK19message RNA might be helpful to diagnose NSCLC micrometastasis in lymph nodes. LUNX was superior to CK19 both in sensitivity and specifi city. The establishment of this method may increase the positive rate of detecting metastatic regional lymph nodes in non small cell lung cancer.