Data analysis The results of the quantitative PCR were generated using the software version 1.3. The threshold cycle in each subject was received on the basis of two independent experiments. Relative gene expression analysis was applied. The expression www.selleckchem.com/products/BI6727-Volasertib.html ratio (relative quantity��RQ) was calculated by means of the Livak��s formula for delta delta Ct.25 Statistical analysis All data were analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 13.0. The comparison between EGFR and hTERT gene expression in NSCLC patients and COPD patients was done with Mann-Whitney. A p-value <0.05 was considered of statistical significance. Results Clinicopathological features of NSCLC patients Of the 45 NSCLC patients thirty-seven (82%) were males and eight (18%) were females, with a mean age of 59.
8 years (range 43�C75). All were active smokers with a mean number of packyears��28.1. Regarding the histological types fourteen (31%) had adenocarcinomas and thirty-one (69%) had squamous cell carcinoma. Five (11%) were subsequently diagnosed with T1 disease, twenty (44%) with T2, fourteen (31%) with T3 and six (14%) with T4. Regarding the nodal status��twenty-three (51%) were diagnosed with N0 disease, six (13%) with N1, fourteen (31%) with N2 and two (5%) with N3. None of the patients had distant metastases upon diagnosis. Regarding the overall stage��sitxteen (35%) had stage I, thirteen (29%) were at stage II, sixteen (36%) at stage III. The COPD group of patients consisted of thirty-seven men and three women with a mean age��61.4 (range 56�C74). All were smokers with a mean number of packyears��27.
3. The diagnosis of COPD was verified spirometrically and the forced expiratory outflow��FEO1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of less than 70% was used as a criteria for participation. According to the grade of obstruction (FEO1), the group of COPD patients consisted of��17 patients with FEO1 < 80%, 12 patients with FEO1 between 80%�C50%, 11 patients with FEO1 < 50%. Correlations between expression of EGFR and hTERT mRNA markers in plasma and patients�� clinicopathological characteristics Regarding the whole group of patients, no significant correlation could be found between expression of mRNA markers in plasma and patients�� demographic and clinicopathological features such as gender and histological type of cancer.
The expression Brefeldin_A of EGFR however seemed to correlate with the grade of differentiation��p = 0.009. In addition, expression of both EGFR and hTERT in plasma was not significantly associated with the T, N, M, factor and the overall stage of the disease��Table 1. Table 1. EGFR and hTERT gene expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with NSCLC. Plasma expression of EGFR and hTERT mRNA in NSCLC and high risk group EGFR mRNA could be detected in all patients with NSCLC. The mean level of expression was RQ = 29.39; RQmin = 0.95; RQmax = 50.03.