Diagnostic value of detection of lung-specific X protein gene mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer using real-time RT-PCR assay

Objective: To explore the value of lung-specific X protein gene(LUNX)mRNA expression in diagnosis of lung cancer.Methods: Real-time RT-PCR assay was used to detect LUNX mRNA in the peripheral blood of 67 patients with lung cancer,40 patients with benign pulmonary disease and 20 healthy volunteers.The serum levels of CEA,CA125 and Cyfra21-1 of 67 patients with lung cancer were simultaneously measured by radioimmunoassay.Results: The positive rate of LUNX mRNA expression in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer was higher than that of each one or combination of CEA,CA125 and Cyfra21-1(56.7% and 11.9%,16.4%,26.9%,32.8%,respectively)(P<0.05-P<0.005),and the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of LUNX mRNA were 56.7%,100%,100% and 67.4% by real-time RT-PCR assay,respectively.Conclusions: LUNX mRNA in peripheral blood detected by Real-Time RT-PCR assay may be a good gene indicator for diagnosis of lung cancer.