[Detection of micrometastases in axillary lymph nodes of node-negative breast cancer patients and its clinical significance].
Monoclonal antibodies against cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) were applied as a prob, using APAAP immunohistochemistry technique to detect 635 lymph nodes from 45 breast cancer patients with negative lymph nodes. Micrometastases were identified in 14 lymph nodes of 9 cases (20%). A significant difference was found between cytokeratin staining positive group and cytokeratin staining negative group in disease-free and over-all Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The detection of micrometastases had more clinical value for T1 and T2 patients. One of 2 T1 cytokeratin positive cases relapsed while only 1 of 19 T1 negative cases relapsed within 5 years, three of 5 T2 cytokeratin positive cases relapsed while 1 of 17 negative cases did. The presence of micrometastases had the same value in predicting local recurrence and distant metastases.
Wu
J
J
Research Clinic, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing.
Yu
Z
Z
Li
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
D007633:Keratins