Detecting Cancer Cells with CK20 RT-PCR
Author Information
Author(s): Jung R, Petersen K, Krüger W, Wolf M, Wagener C, Zander A, Neumaier M
Primary Institution: University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Hypothesis
Can cytokeratin 20 RT-PCR effectively detect micrometastasis in cancer patients?
Conclusion
CK20 mRNA expression is found in normal granulocytes, which can affect the detection of circulating cancer cells.
Supporting Evidence
- CK20 mRNA was detected in 24% of healthy donors, 35% of ICU patients, and 40% of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
- The use of Ficoll gradients improved the specificity of the CK20 RT-PCR assay.
Takeaway
This study shows that a test for cancer cells might pick up signals from normal blood cells, which could confuse the results.
Methodology
The study analyzed CK20 mRNA detection in samples from healthy donors, ICU patients, and patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
Limitations
The presence of CK20 mRNA in normal granulocytes may lead to false positives in cancer detection.
Participant Demographics
33 healthy donors, 20 ICU patients, and 14 patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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