Detection of micrometastases in patients with primary breast cancer.
An immunocytochemical method was used to screen smears obtained at primary surgery from multiple bone-marrow sites in 110 patients with breast cancer; at this time other techniques did not reveal metastases. Tumour cells were detected in the bone-marrow of 31 (28%) patients. The number of cells detected ranged from 1 to greater than 500; none was detected in conventionally stained smears. Patients in whom conventional criteria indicated a very poor prognosis seemed more likely to have such micrometastases. A further follow-up period is required to determine whether patients with micrometastases relapse earlier than those in whom no tumour cells are demonstrable.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface