title: [The current status of molecular detection of micrometastatic prostate cancer cells].
abstract: We summarized and reviewed published reports, including our studies, on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of micrometastatic prostate cancer cells in lymph nodes, bone marrow and peripheral blood. Some published data preliminarily suggest that the RT-PCR assay of micrometastatic prostate cancer cells may allow a more accurate assessment of lymph node and bone metastases of prostate cancer, and offer a presurgical prediction of the pathological stage of clinically localized disease. In addition, the RT-PCR assay may have a unique prognostic value in prostate cancer. However, controversy remains over the clinical significance of the RT-PCR assay. This assay could potentially develop into a diagnostic procedure for the clinical decision making in patients with prostate cancer. To establish the clinical significance of the RT-PCR assay, further optimized and standardized RT-PCR assay studies are needed, investigating large populations and involving long-term follow-up for the determination of any association between the results of the RT-PCR assay and specific clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gifu University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen