van Eekelen JA, Shammas FV, Wee L, Heikkilä R, Osland A. Quantitative analysis of cytokeratin 20 gene expression using RT-PCR and capillary electrophoresis with fluorescent DNA detection.
Clin Biochem 2000;
33:457-64. [PMID:
11074237 DOI:
10.1016/s0009-9120(00)00155-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
We developed a quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine CK20 expression in colorectal tumor and hematopoietic tissue.
DESIGN AND METHODS
Our method incorporates a calibrated PCR with an internal competitor and an external standard.
RESULTS
The RT-PCR assay is sensitive detecting 10 target molecules of CK20 in solution with one round of 38 amplification cycles. Genomic DNA contamination was eliminated by Dnase I digestion of total RNA. The inclusion of a calibrator in the quantitative RT-PCR analysis allowed for a high throughput of unknown samples within the same assay improving comparative analysis between the samples tested. Analysis of peripheral blood and bone marrow from 20 healthy volunteers revealed a low level of CK20 expression in all samples.
CONCLUSION
To study the clinical significance of CK20 expression as a marker of systemic metastatic disease it is essential to measure CK20 mRNA levels in hematopoietic tissue with sensitive quantitative RT-PCR. A sensitive and reproducible method, which is easily performed, is described.
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