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Macia I, Aiza G, Ramos R, Escobar I, Rivas F, Ureña A, Aso S, Rosado G, Rodriguez-Taboada P, Deniz C, Nadal E, Capella G. Molecular Nodal Restaging Based on CEACAM5, FGFR2b and PTPN11 Expression Adds No Relevant Clinical Information in Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. J INVEST SURG 2020; 35:315-324. [PMID: 33342327 DOI: 10.1080/08941939.2020.1857479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relapse rate in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is high, even in localized disease, suggesting that the current approach to pathological staging is insufficiently sensitive to detect occult micrometastases present in resected lymph nodes. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prognostic value of the expression of embryonic molecular markers in histologically-negative lymph nodes of completely-resected NSCLC. METHODS 76 completely-resected NSCLC patients were included: 60 pN0 and 16 pN1. Primary tumors and 347 lymph node were studied. CEACAM5, FGFR2b, and PTPN11 expression levels were evaluated through mRNA analysis using real-time RT-qPCR assay. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test, Kaplan Meier curves, and log-rank tests. RESULTS CEACAM5 expression levels were scored as high in of 90 lymph nodes (26%). The molecular-positive lymph nodes lead to the restaging of 37 (62%) pN0 patients as molecular N1 or N2 and 5 (31%) pN1 cases were reclassified as molecular-positive N2. Surprisingly, molecular-positive patients associated with a better OS (overall survival, p = 0,04). FGFR2b overexpression was observed in 41 (12%) lymph nodes leading to the restaging of 17 patients (22%). Again a trend was observed toward a better DFS (disease-free survival) in the restaged patients (p = 0,09). Accordingly, high expression levels of CEACAM5 or FGFR2b in the primary were related to better DFS (p = 0,06; p < 0,02, respectively). CONCLUSION Molecular nodal restaging based on expression levels of CEACAM5 and/or FGFR2b, does not add relevant clinical information to pathological staging of NSCLC likely related to the better prognosis of their overexpression in primary tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Macia
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Aiza
- Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology and IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Ramos
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL) and Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Escobar
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Rivas
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Ureña
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Samantha Aso
- Pulmonology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge and IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriela Rosado
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Rodriguez-Taboada
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Deniz
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ernest Nadal
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Catalan Institute of Oncology and IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Capella
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.,Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL. Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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Wang XM, Zhang Z, Pan LH, Cao XC, Xiao C. KRT19 and CEACAM5 mRNA-marked circulated tumor cells indicate unfavorable prognosis of breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2018; 174:375-385. [PMID: 30535933 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-018-05069-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of circulated tumor cells (CTC) marked by cytokeratin 19 coding gene KRT19 mRNA and carcinoembryonic antigen coding gene CEACAM5 mRNA in preoperative peripheral blood of breast cancer patients and provide molecular markers for breast cancer metastasis risk. METHODS The mRNA levels of KRT19 and CEACAM5 in preoperative peripheral blood of breast cancer patients without (n = 603) and with (n = 76) distant metastases at the time of initial diagnosis were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The relationship between CTCKRT19, CTCCEACAM5 and clinicopathological features, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), or overall survival (OS) was statistically analyzed. RESULTS In different pathological stages of breast cancer, the rates of CTCKRT19-pos and CTCCEACAM5-pos increased with the increase of the stages (P = 0.077 and P = 0.004). Preoperative CTCKRT19-pos in breast cancer patients was closely related to the lymph node metastasis statues (P < 0.0001), and had no significant correlation with other clinicopathological features. There was no significant correlation between CTCCEACAM5 and the clinicopathological features. Patients with high levels of CTC double-marked by KRT19 and CEACAM5 mRNA had shorter DMFS (P < 0.0001) and OS (P = 0.016) for patients with breast cancer. The 7-year DMFS rates for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 90.7%, 67.5%, and 59.1%, respectively (P < 0.0001). The prognosis of patients with decreased KRT19 and CEACAM5 mRNA after treatment is better than that of patients who have not decreased, and the combination of the two indicators is better than the single one for predicting PFS (P = 0.002 compare with P = 0.036 or P = 0.047). CONCLUSION Double-marked CTC by KRT19 and CEACAM5 mRNA is a prognostic index of breast cancer patients before surgery and after chemotherapy. Single-marked CTC by KRT19 mRNA indicates lymph node statues of preoperative patients. Therefore, the RT-qPCR-based molecular diagnosis of CTC could be used for prognostic prediction of breast cancer patients and guiding clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Mei Wang
- First Department of Breast Cancer, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 1 Huan-Hu Xi Road, Ti-Yuan Bei, He Xi, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- First Department of Breast Cancer, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 1 Huan-Hu Xi Road, Ti-Yuan Bei, He Xi, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Hui Pan
- First Department of Breast Cancer, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 1 Huan-Hu Xi Road, Ti-Yuan Bei, He Xi, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Chen Cao
- First Department of Breast Cancer, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 1 Huan-Hu Xi Road, Ti-Yuan Bei, He Xi, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunhua Xiao
- First Department of Breast Cancer, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 1 Huan-Hu Xi Road, Ti-Yuan Bei, He Xi, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, People's Republic of China.
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Qiao YF, Chen CG, Yue J, Ma MQ, Ma Z, Yu ZT. Prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative CK19 and CEA mRNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cardia cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:1424-1433. [PMID: 28293089 PMCID: PMC5330827 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i8.1424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA levels in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cardia cancer (GCC).
METHODS We detected the preoperative and postoperative mRNA levels of CK19 and CEA in peripheral blood of 129 GCC patients by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and evaluated their clinical and prognostic significance by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. A new prognostic model which stratified patients into three different risk groups was established based on the independent prognostic factors.
RESULTS Elevated preoperative and postoperative CK19 and CEA mRNA levels in peripheral blood of GCC patients were associated with lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, histological grade, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, preoperative CK19 mRNA, and preoperative and postoperative CEA mRNA levels were correlated with the prognosis of GCC patients. The multivariate analysis showed that lymph node status (P = 0.018), preoperative CK19 (P = 0.035) and CEA (P = 0.011) mRNA levels were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). The 5-year OS rates for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 48.3%, 22.6%, and 4.6%, respectively (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION Elevated preoperative CK19 and CEA mRNA levels may be regarded as promising biomarkers for predicting lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with GCC. This new prognostic model may help us identify the subpopulations of GCC patients with the highest risk.
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He Z, Xia Y, Tang S, Chen Y, Chen L. Detection of occult tumor cells in regional lymph nodes is associated with poor survival in pN0 non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. J Thorac Dis 2016; 8:375-85. [PMID: 27076932 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2016.02.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND patients of pN0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with occult tumor cells (OTCs) in regional lymph nodes (LNs) are reported to have controversial prognostic outcomes. METHOD We pooled pN0 NSCLC patients with OTCs in LNs and compared with those without OTCs. Patient characteristics, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and/or disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. HR greater than 1 conferred an increased hazard for patients with OTCs. RESULTS Eighteen articles were finally enrolled in the meta-analysis and 15 studies provided sufficient data for extracting HRs for OS, resulting to 5 articles available for DFS analysis. The combined HRs of OS was 2.22 (95% CI, 1.87 to 2.64) and 2.4 (95% CI, 1.71 to 3.36) for analysis of DFS. The similar trend was obtained in the subgroup analyses regarding detection methods and study type. Interestingly, even in the analysis of mean numbers of LNs dissection (MLND) intraoperatively, both subgroups (LNs/Pts. <12 and ≥12) illustrated significant HRs of OS (HR: 3.13, 95% CI, 2.17 to 4.52 in LNs/Pts. <12 subgroup and HR: 2.09, 95% CI, 1.63 to 2.68 in LNs/Pts. ≥12). The combined HR of OS in this section was 2.37 (95% CI, 1.63 to 2.68). No publication bias was detected in all the meta-analysis sections. The prognosis of patients with OTCs is inferior to those without OTCs in the terms of OS and DFS regardless of detection methods, study types and MLND. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of patients with OTCs is inferior to those without OTCs in the terms of OS and DFS regardless of detection methods, study types and MLND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng He
- 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yang Xia
- 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Shaowen Tang
- 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yijiang Chen
- 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Liang Chen
- 1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China ; 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Leong SPL, Zuber M, Ferris RL, Kitagawa Y, Cabanas R, Levenback C, Faries M, Saha S. Impact of nodal status and tumor burden in sentinel lymph nodes on the clinical outcomes of cancer patients. J Surg Oncol 2011; 103:518-30. [PMID: 21480244 DOI: 10.1002/jso.21815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The validation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept in melanoma and breast cancer has established a new paradigm in cancer metastasis that, in general, cancer cells spread in a orderly fashion from the primary site to the SLNs in the regional nodal basin and then to the distant sites. In this review article, we examine the development of SLN concept in penile carcinoma, melanoma and breast carcinoma and its application to other solid cancers with emphasis of the relationship between micrometastasis in SLNs and clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley P L Leong
- Center for Melanoma Research and Treatment, Department of Surgery, California Pacific Medical and Research Institute, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
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Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and its relations to the micrometastasis in peripheral blood. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 29:462-5. [PMID: 19662363 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-009-0414-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To examine the relationship between the levels of the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the micrometastasis of peripheral blood in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 108 NSCLC patients, including 40 patients with benign lung diseases and 30 healthy controls, were investigated. The serum VEGF levels were detected by ELISA and CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In NSCLC group, the serum VEGF levels and the positive rate of CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood were 479.8+/-268.5 pg/mL and 66.7%, which were significantly higher than those of the other two groups respectively (P<0.01), and both of them were increased significantly with the progression of clinical stage of the tumors (P<0.01). Serum VEGF levels as well as the positive rate of CK19 mRNA in different pathological types of lung cancer had no significant differences (P>0.05). Serum VEGF levels in the patients positive for CK19 mRNA was 561.7+/-325.6 pg/mL. It is significantly higher than that in the negative patients (P<0.01). There existed a significant correlation between serum VEGF levels and expression of CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood in NSCLC patients (P<0.001). The detection of serum VEGF levels and CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood is helpful in judging the condition and the prognosis of NSCLC patients, and serum VEGF levels and CK19 mRNA are independent of the pathological types of lung cancer. The micrometastasis in peripheral blood of NSCLC patients is significantly associated with serum VEGF levels.
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Allen TC, Cagle PT, Popper HH. Basic Concepts of Molecular Pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2008; 132:1551-6. [DOI: 10.5858/2008-132-1551-bcomp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Craig Allen
- From the Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Dr Allen); the Department of Pulmonary Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex (Dr Cagle); and the Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (Dr Popper)
| | - Philip T. Cagle
- From the Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Dr Allen); the Department of Pulmonary Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex (Dr Cagle); and the Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (Dr Popper)
| | - Helmut H. Popper
- From the Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Dr Allen); the Department of Pulmonary Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex (Dr Cagle); and the Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (Dr Popper)
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Abstract
Recent progress in the molecular analysis of NSCLC tumors and lymph node status will likely translate into a clearer understanding of the variables and predictors of tumor recurrence. This understanding may lead to more appropriate therapeutic decisions both in the operating room and in the clinic. With these analyses at the molecular level, a more precise molecular classification is on the horizon which includes a molecular substaging. All of these aspects of NSCLC biology await testing or final analysis of prospective multi-institutional trials such as that set forth in CALGB 9761.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D'Cunha
- Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, MMC 207, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Ge MJ, Shi D, Wu QC, Wang M, Li LB. Observation of circulating tumour cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in peroperative period. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2005; 132:248-56. [PMID: 16320073 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-005-0059-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2005] [Accepted: 11/08/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess whether surgical manoeuvre or resection of lung cancer could lead to haematogenous dissemination of malignant cells. In the mean time, the relationship between the sequence of vessel ligation and the haematogenous dissemination of cancer cells during operation was determined. METHODS Exploiting cytokeratin 19 (CK19)/carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA as markers, 69 peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent surgical resection with curative intention in preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period, respectively. Before the operation, all patients were randomly assigned to one of the two surgical procedure groups according to the order of vessel ligation, PV-first group and PA-first group. Additionally, the ten patients with benign lung disease served as control subjects undergoing surgical resection. The quantity and timing of the shedding of lung cancer cells into the circulation of patients were also monitored by fluorescent quantitative-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction before, during and after surgery. RESULTS (1) The CK19 diagnostic test: the value of CK19 mRNA in operation was significantly higher than that of preoperation (5.246+/-0.196 vs. 4.472+/-0.164, P=0.000) and postoperation (5.246+/-0.196 vs. 4.694+/-0.177, P=0.013). The values between adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma were strikingly different (4.9110+/-1.0315 vs. 4.1891+/-0.4126, t=2.364, P=0.028). The values between PV-first group and PA-first group during perioperative period appear to be different (4.503 vs. 5.085, P=0.086). Before operation, of the 23 cases studied, 14 cases were positive (60.9%). Surprisingly, circulating epithelial cells were detected in two patients resected for benign lung disease. (2) The CEA diagnostic test: the level of CEA mRNA ascended continuously within this period. The postoperative values were significantly higher than those of preoperation (4.874 vs. 4.483, P=0.000) and those of operative day (4.874 vs. 4.537, P=0.000). The values between PV-first group and PA-first group appear to reach statistical significance (4.397 vs. 4.817, P=0.075). At the same time, there was a correlation between preoperative T-stage and perioperative CEA mRNA (4.267 vs. 4.760, P=0.025). Among the 23 cases, 10 cases were positive (43.5%). Both patients with benign lung disease served as control subjects undergoing surgical resection and the volunteers were negative. CONCLUSIONS A considerable proportion of patients who appear to have resectable NSCLC might be regarded as having systemic disease, which is often undetectable by current tumour staging method. In terms of a marker used for the NSCLC patients who undergo operation, CEA is more suitable than CK19. The CK19-expressing epithelial cells are released intraoperatively into the circulation, meanwhile CEA-expressing tumour cells are disseminated mostly postoperatively. Surgical manipulation could promote the release of tumour cells into the bloodstream, but the ligation of pulmonary vein before the ligation of the pulmonary artery may partly prevent such release during surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Jian Ge
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, 400016, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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