ISSN:
1573-7217
Keywords:
breast cancer; cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA
;
reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)
;
circulating tumor cells
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We optimized the assay for detection of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood as an index of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients. The limit of detection of 〈1 MCF7 tumor cells per 106 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was achieved in mixing experiments. We did not detect CKl9 mRNA in control bloods (0/30) or in the blood of patients with benign breast disease (0/15). In blood samples from 109 patients with invasive breast cancer, CK19 mRNA was detected in 7/23 patients with node-negative disease, in 21/58 with node-positive disease, and in 20/28 with distant metastases. There was a significant association (P〈0.01) of CK19 positivity with distant metastatic versus both node-negative and node-positive disease, but not with any other histopathological parameter examined. In a small number of patients with distant metastases, increased intensity of the CK19 RT-PCR signal was associated with a reduced survival.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006350913243
Permalink
