Comparison of oncogene mutation detection and telomerase activity for the molecular staging of non-small cell lung cancer

摘要: Novel oncogene mutation detection techniques have demonstrated that standard histopathological examination may fail to detect clinically significant metastatic cancer cells. Recently, telomerase activity has been detected in most immortal cell lines and human tumors, potentially providing a novel diagnostic marker. We compared with the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay either p53 plaque hybridization or K-ras ligation lymph nodes of 12 patents surgically resectable non-small lung cancer. Telomerase was 10 (100%) evaluable tumors. Eight 9 (89%) histopathologically positive were positive, 26 48 (54%) negative positive. In comparison, oligonucleotide metastases all 3 27 nodes. Similarly, 6 examined 1 21 Thus, "positive" by did not harbor occult neoplastic cells shared same genetic alteration as primary tumor. The high rate false positives associated limits its role staging patients