title: Immunocytologic detection of isolated tumor cells in bone marrow of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.
abstract: The well-documented specificity of anticytokeratin monoclonal antibodies for detection of epithelial micrometastatic cancer cells in bone marrow as a prognostic indicator inspired us to apply this approach to patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SSC) of the head and neck region. The sensitivity of the broad-spectrum anticytokeratin monoclonal antibody (mAb) A45-B/B3 used for tumor cell detection was demonstrated by immunostaining of cryostat sections from the respective primary tumors. Analysis of 31 patients with SSC revealed A45-B/B3-positive cells in 10 cases (32.3%) at frequencies of 1-207 per 1 x 10(6) mononuclear cells. Most specimens displayed isolated tumor cells, while cell clusters were found in only two cases (6.5%). The present data suggest that hematogenous dissemination of cancer cells is more frequent than expected from clinicopathologic staging of patients with SSC of the head and neck region.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, Virchow-Clinic, Medical Faculty, Humboldt University Berlin, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gath
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heissler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riethmüller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004396:Coloring Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007633:Keratins