Immunohistochemical detection of hepatic CEA+ cells: hepatic tumor cell dissemination in colorectal cancer patients--limits of surgery?
OBJECTIVE
Hepatic recurrence following resection of liver metastases occurs in about half of the patients. This is attributed to insufficient margins by some authors, while others accuse the presence of occult tumor cell dissemination.


METHODS
Representative samples of the hepatic margin of 32 patients were examined. Clinicopathologic parameters of the primary tumors of metastatic lesions as well as the width of hepatic resection margin and postoperative adjuvant therapies were recorded.


RESULTS
Occult tumor cells were identified in 18 patients (56%). Postoperative adjuvant therapy was associated with longer relapse-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunohistochemical detection of occult tumor cells is feasible and a frequent finding in the remaining tissue after hepatic metastasectomy.
Rehders
Alexander
A
Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Kinderchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf, Germany. rehders@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Stoecklein
Nikolas Hendrik
NH
Aydin
Feride
F
Alexander
Andrea
A
Baldus
Stephan Ernst
SE
Knoefel
Wolfram Trudo
WT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen