CK19 mRNA in blood can predict non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.
Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used to detect CK19 mRNA in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) tissues from breast cancer patients. We examined whether CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood is predictive of non-sentinel lymph node (nSLN) metastasis. Breast cancer cases diagnosed with clinical stage cT1-3cN0 and registered in our medical biobank were identified retrospectively. This study then included 120 breast cancer cases treated at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from Aug 2014 to Aug 2015, including 60 SLN-positive and 60 SLN-negative cases. CK19 mRNA levels in peripheral blood samples were assessed using RT-PCR prior to tumor removal. During surgery, if SLNB tissue showed evidence of metastasis, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed. No ALND was performed if SLNB and nSLN tissues were both negative for metastasis. CK19 expression was higher in nSLN-positive patients than in nSLN-negative patients (p < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that lymphatic vessel invasion and CK19 levels were predictive of nSLN status (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve for CK19 was 0.878 (p < 0.05). We conclude that high CK19 levels in peripheral blood may independently predict nSLN metastasis in breast cancer patients.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, P.R.China.|Department of Breast Tumor Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshan Bridge, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, P.R.China.
Xing-Fei
XF
Yu
Department of Breast Tumor Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshan Bridge, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, P.R.China.
Hong-Jian
HJ
Yang
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshan Bridge, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, P.R.China.
Lei
L
Lei
Department of Breast Tumor Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshan Bridge, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, P.R.China.
Chen
C
Wang
Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, P.R.China.
Jian
J
Huang
D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071036:Sentinel Lymph Node / Q000473:pathology; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods
D053539:Keratin-19; D012333:RNA, Messenger
CK19; biomarker; breast cancer; metastasis; non-sentinel lymph node