Molecular detection of cancer cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood ofpatients with operable breast cancer. Comparison of CK19, MUC1 and CEA using RT-PCR
N. Berois et al., Molecular detection of cancer cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood ofpatients with operable breast cancer. Comparison of CK19, MUC1 and CEA using RT-PCR, EUR J CANC, 36(6), 2000, pp. 717-723
We have compared three different RT-PCR procedures to measure cytokeratin 1
9 (CK19), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mucin MUC1 gene expression in
order to determine their diagnostic value in detecting tumour cells in bone
marrow aspirates of patients with operable breast cancer. In an experiment
al model, the best sensitivity was observed for CK19 and MUC1 RT-PCR assays
, although only the CEA and CK19 assays showed good specificity. The study
of 42 patients showed that a 'CK19 positive/ CEA positive' RT-PCR assay in
bone marrow correlated positively with a positive axillary lymph node statu
s (N-0 versus N1-3, P < 0.05). Both assays were also positive in 17% of nod
e negative patients. RT-PCR assays were more sensitive in bone marrow than
in peripheral blood. Our results suggest that CK19 and CEA RT-PCR assays ar
e powerful methods for detecting disseminated breast cancer cells. A larger
study with long-term follow-up is required in order to clarify their clini
cal usefullness. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.