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International Journal of Colorectal Disease

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01-09-2004 | Original Article

Prognostic evaluation and review of immunohistochemically detected disseminated tumor cells in peritumoral lymph nodes of patients with pN0 colorectal cancer

Authors: Robert Rosenberg, Jan Friederichs, Ralf Gertler, Axel Hoos, James Mueller, Jorg Nahrig, Hjalmar Nekarda, Joerg-Ruediger Siewert

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 5/2004

Abstract

Background

The value of immunohistochemical detection of disseminated tumor cells in histopathologically tumor-free lymph nodes (pN0) of patients with colorectal cancer is still of uncertain prognostic value. We therefore evaluated the immunohistochemical detection rates and their prognostic value comparing three different monoclonal antibodies.

Methods

A total of 170 lymph nodes of 85 patients with curatively resected colorectal carcinoma at UICC stage I or II were evaluated for disseminated tumor cells. Frozen sections of each lymph node were immunohistochemically stained using three antibodies directed against CEA, CK20, and Ber-EP4. The detection rates were compared with histopathological tumor parameters and with the patient’s survival. The median follow-up time was 86 months.

Results

CEA-, CK20-, and Ber-EP4-positive disseminated tumor cells were identified microscopically in lymph nodes of 23 patients (27%), 24 patients (28%), and 23 patients (27%), respectively. In 18 patients (21%) disseminated tumor cells were found in consecutive sections and stained positive for all three monoclonal antibodies. The lymph nodes of 10 of 18 patients (56%), which developed tumor recurrence, contained CEA- and CK20-positive disseminated tumor cells. Ber-EP4-positive cells were present in lymph nodes of 9 of 18 patients (50%) with tumor recurrence. The 5-year overall survival of the 23 patients with CEA-positive disseminated tumor cells was 72% compared to 91% of the patients without immunohistochemical evidence of tumor cells (p<0.01). While the identification of CK20-positive tumor cells was also correlated significantly with a worse overall patient survival (p<0.01), the application of Ber-EP4 failed to reach significance (p=0.057). Multivariate analysis identified the tumor site (colon versus rectal cancer) (p<0.006) and the presence of CEA-positive disseminated tumor cells (p<0.03) as independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

In colorectal carcinoma, the immunohistochemical detection of disseminated tumor cells in histopathologically pN0 peritumoral lymph nodes allows the identification of a subgroup with a significantly worse prognosis. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of immunohistochemically detected disseminated tumor cells remains controversial due to the nonuniform data in the literature.

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Title: Prognostic evaluation and review of immunohistochemically detected disseminated tumor cells in peritumoral lymph nodes of patients with pN0 colorectal cancer
Authors: Robert Rosenberg
Jan Friederichs
Ralf Gertler
Axel Hoos
James Mueller
Jorg Nahrig
Hjalmar Nekarda
Joerg-Ruediger Siewert
Publication date: 01-09-2004
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 5/2004
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-003-0559-z

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Springer Medicine

Prognostic evaluation and review of immunohistochemically detected disseminated tumor cells in peritumoral lymph nodes of patients with pN0 colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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