Circulating tumor cells detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA: distinguishing follicular thyroid carcinoma from adenoma.
BACKGROUND
We prospectively tested whether circulating tumor cells could be detected in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid tumors by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) messenger RNA (mRNA).


METHODS
We assayed for CEA mRNA by RT-PCR in peripheral blood sampled before and 2 to 3 weeks after curative surgery for thyroid tumors in 121 patients. Blood samples from 7 patients with chronic thyroiditis and 7 healthy subjects served as controls.


RESULTS
No control samples were positive for CEA mRNA by RT-PCR. Of 121 preoperative samples from patients with thyroid tumor, 6 were positive (5.0%). Preoperative frequencies of CEA mRNA positivity in benign tumor, papillary carcinoma, follicular variant papillary carcinoma, minimally invasive follicular carcinoma, and widely invasive follicular carcinoma were 0%, 0%, 0%, 44.4% (4/9), and 50.0% (2/4), respectively. Among positive patients only one, who had widely invasive follicular carcinoma, remained positive after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
RT-PCR detection of tumor cells in preoperative blood often can distinguish malignant from benign follicular thyroid tumors.
Sato
Takashi
T
Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Japan.
Harao
Michiko
M
Nakano
Shogo
S
Jotsuka
Toko
T
Suda
Namiko
N
Yamashita
Jun-ichi
J
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger