title: Detection of circulating tumor cells in high-risk endometrial cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer (EC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively included 28 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of grade 3 EC undergoing surgery from June 2010 to December 2011. Their preoperative blood samples were tested for the presence of CTCs using an immunomagnetic and immunofluorescence assay technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 2 out of 28 patients (7%) were positive for CTCs. The presence of positive CTCs was significantly associated with myometrial invasion (MI) (33% vs. 0% for MI>50% vs. ≤50%; p=0.04) and lymph node positivity (40% vs. 0% for positive vs. negative nodes; p=0.03). Only patients with endometrioid histology had positive CTCs (29% in endometrioid vs. 0% in nonendometrioid; p=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of positive CTCs was associated with deep MI and lymph node positivity. The absence of CTCs in patients with type II histology suggests the need to find other markers in this sub-group of patients.
authors: Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Bogani
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A. Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Minetta C
authors: MC
authors: Liu
authors: Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Sean C
authors: SC
authors: Dowdy
authors: Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Cliby
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Sarah E
authors: SE
authors: Kerr
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Kimberly R
authors: KR
authors: Kalli
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Benjamin R
authors: BR
authors: Kipp
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Kevin C
authors: KC
authors: Halling
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A.
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Campion
authors: Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A. mariani.andrea@mayo.edu.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Mariani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
keywords: Circulating tumor cells; endometrial cancer; hematogenous dissemination; prognosis; recurrence