Karla Rubio1,2,3,4,5,6 · Jason M. Müller7,8 · Aditi Mehta4,9,10 · Iris Watermann4,11 · Till Olchers4,11 · Ina Koch4,10,12 · Sabine Wessels4,13,14 · Marc A. Schneider4,13,14 · Tania Araujo‑Ramos15 · Indrabahadur Singh15 · Christian Kugler4,11 · Mircea Gabriel Stoleriu4,10,12 · Mark Kriegsmann4,14,16 · Martin Eichhorn4,14,17 · Thomas Muley4,13,14 · Olivia M. Merkel4,9,10 · Thomas Braun3,18 · Ole Ammerpohl4,19 · Martin Reck4,11 · Achim Tresch7,8,20 · Guillermo Barreto1,2,3,4
Abstract:
Background Lung cancer (LC) causes more deaths worldwide than any other cancer type. Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, the fatality rate of LC cases remains high (95%) since the majority of patients are diagnosed at late stages when patient prognosis is poor. Analysis of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) database indicates that early diagnosis is significantly associated with favorable outcome. However, since symptoms of LC at early stages are unspecific and resemble those of benign pathologies, current diagnostic approaches are mostly initiated at advanced LC stages.
Methods We developed a LC diagnosis test based on the analysis of distinct RNA isoforms expressed from the GATA6 and NKX2-1 gene loci, which are detected in exhaled breath condensates (EBCs). Levels of these transcript isoforms in EBCs were combined to calculate a diagnostic score (the LC score). In the present study, we aimed to confirm the applicability.
