The relevance of RT-PCR detection of disseminated tumour cells is hampered by the expression of markers regarded as tumour-specific in activated lymphocytes.
Marker genes, commonly used to detect circulating tumour cells in RT-PCR-based tests: squamous-cell carcinoma antigen, epidermal growth factor receptor, mammaglobin, small breast epithelial mucin, but not carbonic anhydrase 9, were shown to be expressed in normal, mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC). Thus, considering the inflammatory reactions often accompanying cancer development, to reduce false-positive results of the metastatic tumour cell tests, molecular markers should be validated not against normal peripheral blood, but against activated lymphoid cells, such as in vitro mitogen-stimulated PBMNC.
Kowalewska
Magdalena
M
Department of Molecular Biology, The Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland. magdak@coi.waw.pl
Chechlińska
Magdalena
M
Markowicz
Sergiusz
S
Kober
Paulina
P
Nowak
Radosława
R
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor