Detection of Axillary Lymph Node Micrometastases in Breast Cancer Using RT-PCR: Comparison the Results of MUC1, Cytokeratin 19.
- Author:
Ryung Ah LEE
1
;
Hee Joon KANG
;
Sung Won KIM
;
Han Sung KANG
;
Seong Suk KIM
;
Yeo Kyu YUN
;
Seung Keun OH
;
Kuk Jin CHOE
;
Dong Young NOH
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast cancer;
Lymph node micrometastases;
MUC1;
Cytokeratin 19;
RT-PCR
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Humans;
Keratin-19*;
Keratins*;
Lymph Nodes*;
Neoplasm Micrometastasis*;
Polymerase Chain Reaction
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2001;60(1):29-35
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The detection of axillary lymph-node micrometastases in breast-cancer patients by using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) may provide a good guide for postoperative therapy. To evaluate effectiveness of RT-PCR for the detection of micrometastasis, we have compared the results of conventional, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with those of RT-PCR. METHODS: We conducted RT-PCR amplifications of MUC1 and cytokeratin (CK) 19 on lymph nodes from 40 breast- cancer patients and conducted IHC staining for cytokeratin. The results of histological examination and cytokeratin IHC staining were compared with the RT-PCR results for the detection of lymph-node micrometastases. RESULTS: Nineteen of 40 cases (47.5%) were lymph-node positive and twenty-one cases (52.5%) were lymph-node negative. Using RT-PCR MUC1 and CK19 expressions were detected in all positive lymph nodes and in 4 (19.0%) and 5 (23.8%), in negative nodes, respectively. Not all positive nodes were stained by IHC (94.7%), and none of the negative lymph nodes were stained by IHC. Thus, IHC staining was ineffective in detecting micrometastases. CONCLUSION: Detection of MUC1 and CK19 by using RT- PCR can be a more accurate and useful method than IHC staining for the detection of axillary lymph-node micrometastases in breast cancer.
