Detection of erbB2 copy number variations in plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mortality is high in patients with esophageal carcinoma as tumors are rarely detected before the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Here, we sought to isolate cell-free DNA released into the plasma of patients with esophageal carcinoma, to analyze copy number variations of marker genes in the search for early detection of tumor progression.

Methods

Plasma of 41 patients with esophageal carcinoma was prospectively collected before tumor resection and chemotherapy. Our dataset resulted heterogeneous for clinical data, resembling the characteristics of the tumor. DNA from the plasma was extracted to analyze copy number variations of the erbB2 gene using real-time PCR assays.

Results

The real-time PCR assays for erbB2 gene showed significant (P = 0.00

SUBMITTER: Andolfo I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3094322 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature