title: Polymerase chain reaction in the staging of solid tumors.
abstract: Polymerasechain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique that holds great promise as a way to perform molecular staging of cancer by detecting very early metastatic disease. Significant data suggest that PCR analysis may play an important role in the management of colorectal cancer in the future. However, for PCR staging of breast cancer, progress awaits identification of gene markers that have sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Within the next few years, the results of the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial and other ongoing studies will determine whether PCR evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes and peripheral blood cells has prognostic relevance in melanoma. The future of cancer management will likely revolve around the molecular staging of tumors, and PCR is but one method that may better define subgroups of patients that are appropriate candidates forvarious anticancer therapies.
authors: Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Louisville, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Kentucky 40202, USA.
authors: Eric G
authors: EG
authors: Davis
authors: Celia
authors: C
authors: Chao
authors: Kelly M
authors: KM
authors: McMasters
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D005819:Genetic Markers