RT-PCR amplification of CK19 mRNA in the blood of breast cancer patients: correlation with established prognostic parameters.
We optimized the assay for detection of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood as an index of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients. The limit of detection of < 1 MCF7 tumor cells per 10(6) peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was achieved in mixing experiments. We did not detect CK19 mRNA in control bloods (0/30) or in the blood of patients with benign breast disease (0/15). In blood samples from 109 patients with invasive breast cancer, CK19 mRNA was detected in 7/23 patients with node-negative disease, in 21/58 with node-positive disease, and in 20/28 with distant metastases. There was a significant association (P < 0.01) of CK19 positivity with distant metastatic versus both node-negative and node-positive disease, but not with any other histopathological parameter examined. In a small number of patients with distant metastases, increased intensity of the CK19 RT-PCR signal was associated with a reduced survival.
Kahn
H J
HJ
Department of Pathology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. harriette.kahn@swchsc.on.ca
Yang
L Y
LY
Blondal
J
J
Lickley
L
L
Holloway
C
C
Hanna
W
W
Narod
S
S
McCready
D R
DR
Seth
A
A
Marks
A
A
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007633:Keratins