Improved real-time rt-PCR assays of two colorectal cancer peripheral blood mRNA biomarkers: a pilot study

Efficient screening for detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) at earlier stages reduces its mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in peripheral blood of CRC patients and to present strategies for early detection screen test. Twenty seven patients in non-metastatic stage and 27 healthy individuals were studied. Expression of CEA, hTERT mRNA and 18srRNA (18s subunit of ribosomal RNA, as reference gene) were determined based on real-time RT-PCR on 3 µg of total RNA from blood in 3 separate vials (1 µg per vial). Positive expression rate of CEA mRNA (78%) and hTERT mRNA (81%) were higher in patient group (P