Lung cancer-related genes in the blood

Tumor-related genes can be found circulating in the blood of cancer patients. These genes may be derived from circulating cancer cells or from the patient's primary tumor directly by a process referred to as "gene shedding." Selective and sensitive detection of tumor-related genes in the blood of cancer patients has been made possible by the advent of polymerase chain reaction-based technology that can detect mutations, polymorphisms, microsatellite instability, loss of heterozygosity, and promoter hypermethylation. Several reports have documented the clinical potential of using circulating tumor-related genes as a molecular marker for the early detection of lung cancer, and as a prognostic tool in these patients; larger, prospective studies will be needed to test the feasibility of this approach. Certainly, such an approach in lung cancer patients would be attractive since it is noninvasive and employs relatively easy and rapid methodologies.