Expression and Clinical Significance of Pim-1 and RON in Lung Cancer Patients with Benign and Malignant Pleural Effusion.

[BACKGROUND] This study aimed to investigate the expression differences and diagnostic value of Pim-1 and RON in lung cancer patients with benign and malignant pleural effusion.

[METHODS] Forty lung cancer patients with benign pleural effusion (BPE) and forty with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) were enrolled. The relative expression levels of Pim-1 and RON mRNA in pleural effusion were measured using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Pim-1 and RON.

[RESULTS] Compared to the BPE group, Pim-1 expression levels were significantly increased in the MPE group (p < 0.05). RON expression levels were also significantly elevated in the MPE group (p < 0.01). ROC curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing MPE using pleural effusion Pim-1 and RON were 0.646 (95% CI 0.526 - 0.766) and 0.809 (95% CI 0.715 - 0.904), respectively. The AUC for the combined detection of Pim-1 and RON was 0.853 (95% CI 0.773 - 0.934).

[CONCLUSIONS] Pim-1 and RON are highly expressed in malignant pleural effusion, suggesting a role in lung cancer metastasis to the pleural cavity. Detection of Pim-1 and RON in pleural effusion demonstrates potential diagnostic value for MPE.