title: Detection of circulating tumor cells in colorectal and gastric cancer using a multiplex PCR assay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was the development of a multiplex-PCR assay for the detection of circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal and gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected from 81 patients with colorectal cancer, 16 with gastric cancer and 38 healthy blood donors, as controls. The samples were processed for RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis and were subsequently analyzed for the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), cytokeratin 20(CK20) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with multiplex PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed that the combination of CK19 and CK20 could be useful in the exclusion of colorectal cancer, as well as the diagnosis and exclusion of gastric cancer. Furthermore, the expression of EGFR was correlated with the presence of systemic disease in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiplex-PCR-based detection of circulating tumor cells could serve as a useful tool for the diagnosis, and monitoring of patients with colorectal and gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece avaiopoulos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aristeidis G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vaiopoulos
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Kostakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eliona
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gkioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kalliopi Ch
authors.initials: KCh
authors.lastname: Athanasoula
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pikoulis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christopoulos
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gogas
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouraklis
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsilieris
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: CK19; CK20; Circulating tumor cells; EGFR; PCR; colorectal cancer; gastric cancer