title: Molecular detection of disseminated tumor cells in the peripheral blood in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, 62 preoperative peripheral blood samples from patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas, 12 healthy volunteers, and ten patients with inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases were analyzed for the determination of CEA, CK19, and CK20 mRNA expression in peripheral blood, and its clinical significance was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was used to analyze CEA, CK19, and CK20 mRNA expression in peripheral blood. Fresh tumor tissues from patients with colorectal cancer (n=15) were used as a positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 62 blood samples from patients with gastrointestinal cancer, the expression of CEA, CK19, and CK20 mRNA was 51.6% (32/62), 35.5% (22/62), and 48.4% (30/62), respectively. 74.2% (46/62) were positive for at least one marker. Fifteen tumor tissues were all positive for CEA, CK19, and CK20 mRNA. Only one blood sample from patients with no gastrointestinal carcinoma was positive for CEA mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the molecular detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma was significantly correlated with its malignant biological properties, and may be helpful in the selection of clinical treatment and judgment of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southeast University, 210009 Capa, Nanjing, China. Huangpeilin2002@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Peilin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jingmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053554:Keratin-20; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017931:DNA Primers; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; D053554:Keratin-20; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D007633:Keratins