Résumé
AIM: To explore the expression of cytokeratin 20 (CK-20)target gene in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Total cellular RNA was extracted from whole blood of cancer patients and control groups, including 10 healthy adults, 17 benign gastrointestinal disease patients, 32 cases of colorectal cancer. The CK-20 gene expression was measured by reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: 1. CK-20 mRNA was not detected in benign gastrointestinal disease patients and healthy adults. 2. In the colorectal carcinoma group, CK-20 mRNA expression was negative in 2 case of patients at Dukes A. The CK-20 mRNA positive expression can be detected in 4 patients among 15 cases at Dukes B, 6 out of 10 cases at Dukes C, 4 out of 5 cases at Dukes D. 3. The total positive percentage of CK-20 mRNA is 43 8% in 32 colorectal cancer patients; The positive percentage of CK-20 mRNA in patients at Dukes A and B is 23 5% and 6 7% in Dukes C, D patients CONCLUSION: It is a specific, sensitive and no damage method to detect the CK-20 target gene in patients with colorectal cancer. It is helpful for early diagnosis of tumor micrometastasis and for direction of chemotherapy.