title: Epithelial cells in the peripheral blood of patients with cancer of the head and neck: incidence, detection and possible clinical significance.
abstract: In this study amplification of cytokeratin-19 mRNA by Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with cancer of the head and neck before, during and after radiation therapy. Detection of cytokeratin-19-positive cells coincided with local failure, distant metastasis and anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Radiological University Clinic, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106, Freiburg i. Brsg., Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pajonk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schlessmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guttenberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity