Identification and characterisation of minimal residual disease in solid tumors

Malignant tumors of epithelial tissue are the most common form of cancer an d are responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths in Western indu strialized countries. As a result of progress in surgical treatment of thes e tumors lethality is linked increasingly with early metastasis, which is g enerally occult at the time of primary diagnosis. The decision as to whethe r systemic adjuvant therapy should be applied for secondary prevention of m etastatic relapse following resection of the primary tumor is based solely on the statistical prognosis. For this reason the direct identification of minimal residual cancer is of particular importance. The studies described below demonstrate the utility of immunocytochemical and molecular analysis in the diagnosis and characterization of minimal residual cancer. For the f irst time these methods give access to this critical stage of tumor progres sion and also contribute to the development of new approaches to therapy ai med at preventing manifest metastasis. (Acta Med. Austriaca 2000;27:8-12).