miR-126 is a potential diagnostic marker for malignant pulmonary nodules in endobronchial epithelial lining fluid

Background: Early detection and diagnostic clarification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules by less invasive methods could contribute to better intervention strategies and to the reduction of the high mortality in lung cancer patients. Endobronchial epithelial lining fluid (EELF) might contains molecular markers with diagnostic potential. With the bronchoscopic microsampling (BMS) technique, it is possible to collect EELF in close proximity to the suspected lesion without the risk of biopsy-associated complications. We investigated whether microRNA (miRNA) in EELF collected by BMS may be useful to facilitate pre…