Transcription expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and endostatin mRNA in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer

Diagn Cytopathol. 2012 Apr;40(4):287-91. doi: 10.1002/dc.21546. Epub 2010 Oct 26.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the individual and combined diagnostic utility of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and endostatin mRNA in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer. Transcription levels of VEGF and endostatin were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer (92 cases) and with lung benign disease (36 cases). Both VEGF mRNA and endostatin mRNA was significantly higher in malignant, AC, and SCC effusions than in benign effusions (P < 0.01). In the subgrouping, VEGF mRNA was obviously higher than endostatin mRNA in malignant and AC effusions (P < 0.01), whereas VEGF mRNA and endostatin mRNA did not differ between AC group and SCC group (P > 0.05). In single, VEGF mRNA had the highest sensitivity (82.6%) and accuracy (84.3%), whereas endostatin mRNA had the highest specificity (100%). When combinations of VEGF mRNA and endostatin mRNA were evaluated together, they gave a high-diagnostic performance: sensitivity of 95.7% and accuracy of 93.8%, respectively. The detection of VEGF mRNA and endostatin mRNA appears to be suitable for distinguishing carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells in pleural effusions, they could be useful to diagnose the pleural micrometastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Endostatins / genetics*
  • Endostatins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Effusion / complications*
  • Pleural Effusion / genetics*
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / complications
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Endostatins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A