title: Molecular analysis in evaluating the sentinel node in malignant melanoma.
abstract: The most powerful predictor of cancer mortality in solid tumors is the status of regional lymph nodes. If the presence or absence of regional nodal metastases will determine which patient receives formal dissection or which patient enters adjuvant therapy, then a technique is needed to accurately screen lymph node samples for occult disease. Routine histopathologic examination commonly underestimates the number of patient with metastases. The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method increased the detection of nodal metastases exponentially. Studies have shown that RT-PCR is a sensitive, reproducible, and efficient technique with prognostic significance. If identification of micrometastases through RT-PCR can lead to improved clinical outcome, then this more accurate method of staging would become the new standard in cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shivers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reintgen
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology; D010450:Endopeptidases; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D010450:Endopeptidases; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes