title: Molecular tools in the detection of micrometastatic cancer cells--technical aspects and clinical relevance.
abstract: The frequent failure to reduce the mortality due to epithelial cancers by common medical intervention results primarily from early dissemination of cancer cells, which is missed by conventional diagnostic procedures used for tumor staging. Individual carcinoma cells present in regional lymph nodes, blood or distant organs (e.g., bone marrow) can be detected by sensitive immunologic or molecular methods. Here, we review recently developed molecular assays for the detection of individual micrometastatic cancer cells and their clinical application in patients with epithelial tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Knebel Doeberitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrödel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herfarth
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins