BACKGROUND: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) A1-6 reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) of bronchial washing fluid for the detection of lung cancer invisible by bronchoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To determine the expression of MAGE A1-6 gene in 75 lung carcinomas diagnosed by conventional fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy and 58 cancer-free controls, RT-nested PCR was performed of bronchial washing fluid. MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR data was analyzed according to tumor histology, stage, size, and compared with cytological data. RESULTS: MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR displayed higher sensitivity (64.0%) than that of conventional cytology (14.7%). There was no significant correlation between MAGE gene expression and histological types or clinical stage. For tumor size, detection rates were 74.0% in tumor smaller than 3 cm and 58.7% in these larger than 3 cm. CONCLUSIONS: MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR of bronchial washing fluid may be a useful method for diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) A1-6 reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) of bronchial washing fluid for the detection of lung cancer invisible by bronchoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To determine the expression of MAGE A1-6 gene in 75 lung carcinomas diagnosed by conventional fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy and 58 cancer-free controls, RT-nested PCR was performed of bronchial washing fluid. MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR data was analyzed according to tumor histology, stage, size, and compared with cytological data. RESULTS:MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR displayed higher sensitivity (64.0%) than that of conventional cytology (14.7%). There was no significant correlation between MAGE gene expression and histological types or clinical stage. For tumor size, detection rates were 74.0% in tumor smaller than 3 cm and 58.7% in these larger than 3 cm. CONCLUSIONS:MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR of bronchial washing fluid may be a useful method for diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer in clinical practice.