title: Keratin 19 mRNA measurement to detect micrometastases in lymph nodes in breast cancer patients.
abstract: We have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure keratin 19 mRNA in order to detect breast cancer cells invading axillary lymph nodes. In a consecutive series of 125 patients with primary breast cancer, 75 patients had no evidence of lymph node involvement by conventional histology. A total of 530 lymph nodes from these patients were examined and 106 (20%) gave a keratin 19 product detectable by Southern hybridisation. This correlated with primary tumour size (P<0.001). These 106 nodes came from 23 patients. Thus, using this technique, 23/75 (30.6%) patients were found to have evidence of lymph node involvement who would otherwise have been designated lymph node negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luqmani
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sinnett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shousha
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Coombes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins