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Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research

Identification of circulating tumour cells in early stage breast cancer patients using multi marker immunobead RT-PCR

Authors: Michael P Raynor, Sally-Anne Stephenson, Kenneth B Pittman, David CA Walsh, Michael A Henderson, Alexander Dobrovic

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Introduction

The ability to screen blood of early stage operable breast cancer patients for circulating tumour cells is of potential importance for identifying patients at risk of developing distant relapse. We present the results of a study of the efficacy of the immunobead RT-PCR method in identifying patients with circulating tumour cells.

Results

Immunomagnetic enrichment of circulating tumour cells followed by RT-PCR (immunobead RT-PCR) with a panel of five epithelial specific markers (ELF3, EPHB4, EGFR, MGB1 and TACSTD1) was used to screen for circulating tumour cells in the peripheral blood of 56 breast cancer patients.
Twenty patients were positive for two or more RT-PCR markers, including seven patients who were node negative by conventional techniques. Significant increases in the frequency of marker positivity was seen in lymph node positive patients, in patients with high grade tumours and in patients with lymphovascular invasion. A strong trend towards improved disease free survival was seen for marker negative patients although it did not reach significance (p = 0.08).

Conclusion

Multi-marker immunobead RT-PCR analysis of peripheral blood is a robust assay that is capable of detecting circulating tumour cells in early stage breast cancer patients.
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Metadata
Title
Identification of circulating tumour cells in early stage breast cancer patients using multi marker immunobead RT-PCR
Authors
Michael P Raynor
Sally-Anne Stephenson
Kenneth B Pittman
David CA Walsh
Michael A Henderson
Alexander Dobrovic
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-8722-2-24

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