Improvement of malignant serous effusions diagnosis by quantitative analysis of molecular claudin 4 expression

Abstract

Claudin gene expression is frequently altered in human cancers. Our aim was to improve the cytology diagnosis of malignancy in serous fluids with the quantification of claudins compared with various classic molecular markers using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Peritoneal or pleural effusions of 56 patients were assessed as malignant from histological analysis and 19 as benign. Claudin 4 was the most significantly upregulated (68%) marker in patients with malignant effusions. In cytologically negative malignant effusions, claudin 4 was found increased in 8/18 fluids. Quantitative RT-PCR is a sensitive method for the detection of free cancer cells in serous effusions.

Keywords::

• Biomarkers
• Claudin 4
• effusions
• quantitative RT-PCR

Acknowledgements

We thank C. Ruesch MD, D. Mille MD, B. Hacquard MD, S. Kawaye MD and W. Mazloum for providing serous effusions, M. Rehailia for statistical analysis, A. Buchmuller and F. Rancon from DRCC for methodology assistance, F. Duplat for technical assistance and C. Moulin for secretary assistance. This work was supported by a grant from la Ligue Contre le Cancer, Comité de la Loire and the Clinical Research Direction of University Hospital Center.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.