The expression and clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in small-cell lung cancer / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of Circulating tumor cells ( CTCs ) in peripheral blood cells of patients with different stages of Small-Cell Lung Cancer ( SCLC) ,and to evaluate its significance in early diagnosis of lung cancer metastasis.Methods Thirty-five patients with SCLC ( 12 in limited stage and 23 in extensive stage ) and 25 patients with benign lung disease were recruited at the Shanghai Changhai Hospital from April 2011 to April 2013.Samples were prepared from 7.5 ml peripheral venous blood and collected in CellSave tubes.The CTC counts were determined using CellTracks AutoPrep fluorescence scanning system according to the manufacturers′instructions.The expression of CTCs in peripheral blood of SCLC patients and benign lung disease patients were analyzed.The expression of CTCs in different stages of SCLC was measured and compared.Furthermore, samples were prepared from 2 ml peripheral venous blood by centrifugation.The serum levels of NSE Neuron specific enolase were measured.The relationship between the expression of CTC and NSE was analyzed.Results CTCs positive rates in SCLC were significantly higher than in benign lung disease controls [ Positive rates of CTC≥1 were 80.0%and 12.0%(χ2 =27.003,P<0.000 1),CTC≥5 were 51.4%and 0 (χ2 =18.367,P<0.000 1), CTC≥10 were 34.3%and 0(χ2 =10.714,P<0.001),CTC≥50 were 17.1 and 0(P=0.036,P<0.05), respectively ].CTCs positive rates in SCLC extensive stage were significantly higher than limited-stage [Positive rates of CTC≥1 were 58.3% and 91.3%(P=0.033,P<0.05), CTC≥5 were 65.2% and 25.0%(P=0.035,P<0.05), respectively].The expression of CTCs was significantly correlated with NSE (r=0.743 7, P<0.000 1).Conclusion The expression of CTC in SCLC patients is significantly higher than those in control group , and is closely related to clinical stages , which may provide new clues to early predicting of SCLC metastasis and deterioration.