Clinical Significance Of Plasma Cancer-testis Antigen MRNA Expression In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer

Objective: To measure the expression levels of three mRNA (GAGE1, SYCP1and SSX4) inthe plasma from patients with pancreatic cancer, and to assess the potential of using these mRNAas biomarkers in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods: Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect theexpression of GAGE1, SYCP1and SSX4genes in the plasm of34cases of pancreatic cancer and13cases of healthy people. The relationships between clinicopathoiogic characteristics of pancreaticcancer and the expression levels of the three genes were analyzed.Results:1. the mRNA of GAGE1, SYCP1and SSX4was detected in the plasma from all of the34casesof patients with pancreatic cancer.2. Compared with healthy subjects, plasma levels of GAGE1, SYCP1and SSX4mRNA inpancreatic cancer patients were significantly higher (P<0.01), with10.37±14.77,15.92±14.26and19.76±14.25times greater than healthy people, respectively.3. Except of SSX4mRNA, The plasma levels of GAGE1and SYCP1mRNA in pancreaticcancer had positive correlations with TNM stage(P<0.05),but the three genes had no correlationwith clinical and pathological features including sex,age, plasma CA19-9and CEA (p>0.05).Conclusions:1. The mRNA levels of GAGE1, SYCP1and SSX4increased significantly in the plasma ofpatients with pancreatic cancer, which could serve as biomarkers for the early diagnosis ofpancreatic cancer.2. The plasma levels of GAGE1and SYCP1mRNA in pancreatic cancer had positivecorrelations with TNM stage.