Analysis of circulating DNA level in the plasma of cervical cancer patients / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the plasma DNA level and investigate its clinicopathological significance in women with cervical cancers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from 42 cervical cancer patients, 20 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CINIII) and 20 healthy women. The plasma DNA was extracted using a commercial kit and detected by a fluorescentmeter.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean plasma DNA level in stage I cervical cancer patients was 12.78-/+5.58 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in CINIII patients (8.10-/+3.06 ng/ml) and normal controls (7.60-/+3.87 ng/ml) (P=0.001). The mean DNA level in stage II-III patients was 17.99-/+7.81 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in stage I patients (P=0.02). No significant difference was found in plasma DNA level between CINIII patients and the normal controls (P>0.05). When the cut-off for diagnosis of cervical cancer was 15.70 ng/ml, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 38.10%, 92.50%, 84.21% and 58.73%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasma DNA level is closely related with malignant transformation and development of cervical cancer, and may become a useful means for differential diagnosis of cervical cancer.</p>