Molecular detection of circulating esophageal squamous cell cancer cells in the peripheral blood.
OBJECTIVE
To detect surgically resectable tumors earlier and improve the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, we examined deltaNp63 expression that was specific for squamous cell carcinoma in blood samples obtained from 43 esophageal cancer patients.


RESULTS
Seventeen of 33 (52%) patients with primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 6 of 10 (60%) patients with postoperative recurrent squamous cell carcinoma had detectable deltaNp63 expression in their peripheral blood using deltaNp63-specific reverse transcription-PCR. Furthermore, deltaNp63 is a more sensitive marker compared with other commonly used tumor markers such as squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
This approach would be potentially useful for the monitoring of patients with this aggressive disease.
Koike
Masahiko
M
Second Department of Surgery, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Hibi
Kenji
K
Kasai
Yasushi
Y
Ito
Katsuki
K
Akiyama
Seiji
S
Nakao
Akimasa
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015843:Serpins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D015843:Serpins; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen