Bone marrow micrometastases detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin can be an alternative prognostic factor of breast cancer

Purpose. To evaluate a new prognostic factor of breast cancer, bone marrow micrometastases which was detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin, a sensitive m olecular marker of breast cancer, was examined. Materials and methods. One hundred and eleven samples from stage I-III brea st cancer patients were examined. Bone marrow micrometastases and clinicopa thological parameters, which were age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis an d status of the estrogen receptor, were evaluated for the prognostic factor by statistical analysis. Results. Median follow-up time was 21.1 months. Thirty-three (29.7 %) out o f 111 samples were RT-PCR positive. Eight cases (24.2 %) in this group show ed recurrent lesions in the distant organs. Whereas six (7.7 %) out of 78 R T-PCR negative patients had distant recurrences. In the premenoposal patien ts, and in the patients with axillary lymph node metastases, RT-PCR positiv e cases showed significantly higher distant recurrent rate. Bone marrow mic rometastases, axillary nodal status, and estrogen receptor were independent prognostic factors for breast cancer by both univariate and multivariate a nalysis. Conclusions. Bone marrow micrometastases detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin can be a useful predictive marker for early distant recurrence of breast c ancer.