Human kallikrein 2 (hK2) mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancerA novel molecular marker?

摘要

PURPOSE. To elucidate whether hK2 mRNA can be detected in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). METHODS. A nested RT-PCR protocol for the detection of hK2 mRNA was established, and blood samples of 72 patients with a history of thyroid cancer, 10 patients with current metastases of thyroid cancer, and 32 volunteers were tested. RESULTS. hK2-transcripts were significantly more often detected in patients with thyroid cancer (20/72=28%) than in the control group (2/32=6%, P = 0.03, chi-square analysis). CONCLUSIONS. This is the first study reporting on hK2 as a potential molecular marker for patients with thyroid cancer. We could demonstrate a correlation between diagnosis of thyroid cancer and the positive signal for hK2 in the RT-PCR assay. Future studies are necessary to prove the clinical value of hK2 as a molecular marker regarding recurrence and outcome.