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RT-PCR amplification of CK19 mRNA in the blood of breast cancer patients: correlation with established prognostic parameters

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Abstract

We optimized the assay for detection of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood as an index of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients. The limit of detection of <1 MCF7 tumor cells per 106 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was achieved in mixing experiments. We did not detect CKl9 mRNA in control bloods (0/30) or in the blood of patients with benign breast disease (0/15). In blood samples from 109 patients with invasive breast cancer, CK19 mRNA was detected in 7/23 patients with node-negative disease, in 21/58 with node-positive disease, and in 20/28 with distant metastases. There was a significant association (P<0.01) of CK19 positivity with distant metastatic versus both node-negative and node-positive disease, but not with any other histopathological parameter examined. In a small number of patients with distant metastases, increased intensity of the CK19 RT-PCR signal was associated with a reduced survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre (SWCHSC), Women's College Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Harriette J. Kahn, Lu-Ying Yang, Wedad Hanna, Arun Seth & Alexander Marks

  2. Depatments of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre (SWCHSC), Women's College Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    John Blondal & Steven Narod

  3. Depatments of Surgery, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre (SWCHSC), Women's College Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Lavina Lickley, Claire Holloway & David R. McCready

  4. Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Alexander Marks

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  1. Harriette J. Kahn
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  2. Lu-Ying Yang
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  4. Lavina Lickley
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  8. David R. McCready
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  9. Arun Seth
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  10. Alexander Marks
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  11. Alexander Marks
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Kahn, H.J., Yang, LY., Blondal, J. et al. RT-PCR amplification of CK19 mRNA in the blood of breast cancer patients: correlation with established prognostic parameters. Breast Cancer Res Treat 60, 143–151 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006350913243

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006350913243

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