PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF MICROMETASTASES

With the introduction of monoclonal antibodies in immunohistochemistry and immunocytology the detection of single disseminated tumor cells b ecame achievable. In breast cancer as well as in gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, and other malignant tumors disseminated tumor cells are present in bone marrow aspirations with a high prevalence. The fre quency of positive aspirations as well as the average cell number corr elate with the tumor stage. Regarding the prognostic significance of t he so-called micrometastases several groups could demonstrate, that th e presence of these cells in bone marrow, lymph nodes or peritoneal wa shings is an independent risk factor for tumor relapse and survival. F uture investigations should focus on the quantitative aspect of microm etastases, the phenotype, and the tumorigenic potential of the individ ual micrometastatic cells.