Study: Detecting Single Cancer Cell in Lymph Nodes May Help Identify Patients at Risk

The detection of single cancer cells in the lymph nodes of node-negative colorectal cancer (CRC) patients may help identify patients who are at high risk for recurrence of colorectal cancer, according to Japanese researchers.

The researchers studied two methods of detecting these micrometastases (single tumor cells): one using immunohistochemistry (IHC) by anti-cytokeratin antibody and the other using carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

The researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncoloty that micrometastases were detected in 19 of 64 patients (29.6 percent) by RT-PCR and in 35 of the patients (54.7 percent) by IHC.

By IHC analysis, the researchers said presence of micrometastasis did not predict patient outcome in terms of either disease-free or overall survival.

But they said that by RT-PCR analysis, patients with micrometastases had a significantly worse prognosis than those who were RT-PCR–negative.

"Micrometastases detected by RT-PCR, but not IHC, may be of clinical value in identifying patients who may be at high risk for recurrence of colorectal cancer and who are therefore likely to benefit from systemic adjuvant therapy," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources:Journal of Clinical Oncology