title: Gastric cancer cell detection in peritoneal washing: cytology versus RT-PCR for CEA transcripts.
abstract: This study investigates the sensitivity and specificity of cytology, qualitative, and real-time RT-PCR methods in free cancer cell detection of peritoneal washing from gastric cancer patients. Peritoneal washings were collected from 65 gastric cancer patients for routine cytology and total RNA extraction for qualitative and real-time RT-PCR for CEA. The sensitivity and false-positive rate was 51.1%, 0% for cytology, 48.9% and 5% for qualitative RT-PCR for CEA, and 42.5% and 5% for real-time RT-PCR for CEA. The qualitative and real time RT-PCR results show high concordance rate (89.7%). The highest sensitivity was obtained by the combination of cytology with qualitative RT-PCR for CEA (70.2%). RT-PCR results were positive in 63.6% of cytologic "atypia" cases. Combination of cytology and either of the RT-PCR methods resulted in significantly higher sensitivity than any one of the three methods alone (P < 0.05). There was no definite advantage of the real-time RT-PCR over the conventional RT-PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical & Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Elaine M C
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: Wing-Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Enders Kwok-Wai
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Sheung-Chi Sydney
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm