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Quantitative analysis of TEM-8 and CEA tumor markers indicating free tumor cells in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common cancer in the world. Approximately in 50 percent of patients, metastatic disease is a major cause of death. Therefore, early diagnosis of CRC is crucial for a successful outcome. For the detection of circulating cancer cells, this study applied a sensitive method that employed specific tumor markers for early detection.

Methods

A total of 80 blood samples from 40 CRC patients and 40 age-matched healthy controls were collected for the study. The circulating mRNA levels of two CRC tumor markers, tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM-8) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were evaluated using an absolute quantitative real-time PCR assay in a Stratagene Mx-3000P real-time PCR system. GAPDH was used as the endogenous control.

Results

TEM-8 and CEA were primarily detected more in the CRC patients rather than in the controls: 22/40 vs 9/40, p=0.009 and 30/40 vs 11/40, p=0.00054, respectively. In the CRC patients, the mRNA level of these markers was significantly higher in comparison to the normal controls (p=0.018 and 0.01). The overall sensitivity of this panel was 65% with a specificity of 75%. Statistical analysis for demographic variants did not reach significant values.

Conclusions

TEM-8 and CEA markers were detected more frequently and in significantly higher levels in the blood samples of patients compared with samples from age-matched healthy controls. The copy number of CEA and TEM-8 mRNA, as detected by a real-time quantitative PCR, appears to be a promising marker for evaluating the risk of tumor spread.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Iran National Science Foundation (#85122/68) at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The authors sincerely thank all of their colleagues at the Human Genetics Division of the Avicenna Research Institute who contributed in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Reza Raeisossadati

  2. Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Bu-Ali Square, 9196773117, Mashhad, Iran

    Reza Raeisossadati, Arash Velayati, Ezzat Dadkhah, Somaye Chavoshi, Meysam Moghbeli & Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, MUMS, Mashhad, Iran

    Azita Ganji

  4. Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Research Center, Qaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran

    Alieza Tavassoli

  5. Surgery Department, Imam Reza Hospital, MUMS, Mashhad, Iran

    Mostafa Mehrabi Bahar

  6. Department of Pathology, Omid Hospital, MUMS, Mashhad, Iran

    Bahram Memar & Hossein Naseh

  7. Surgery Department, Omid Hospital, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Taghi Rajabi Mashhadi

  8. Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

    Omeed Moaven

  9. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Moein Farshchian

  10. Department of Biological Science, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad Univerrsity, Cheshmeh-Ali boulevard, Sa dei square, Damghan, Iran

    Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard

Authors
  1. Reza Raeisossadati
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  2. Moein Farshchian
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  8. Mostafa Mehrabi Bahar
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  9. Bahram Memar
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  10. Mohammad Taghi Rajabi Mashhadi
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  11. Hossein Naseh
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  12. Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard
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  13. Meysam Moghbeli
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  14. Omeed Moaven
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  15. Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan.

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Raeisossadati, R., Farshchian, M., Ganji, A. et al. Quantitative analysis of TEM-8 and CEA tumor markers indicating free tumor cells in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients. Int J Colorectal Dis 26, 1265–1270 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-011-1230-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-011-1230-8

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