Detecting Breast Cancer Cells in Blood
Author Information
Author(s): Ring A E, Zabaglo L, Ormerod M G, Smith I E, Dowsett M
Primary Institution: Royal Marsden Hospital
Hypothesis
This study compares the sensitivities and specificities of three techniques for the detection of circulating epithelial cells in the blood of patients with breast cancer.
Conclusion
The multimarker real-time RT–PCR assay was found to be the most sensitive technique for detecting circulating epithelial cells in the blood of patients with breast cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- 30% of patients with metastatic breast cancer were positive following cell filtration.
- 48% following immunomagnetic separation.
- 60% using real-time RT–PCR for cytokeratin 19.
Takeaway
Doctors can find tiny cancer cells in the blood of breast cancer patients using special tests, and one test works better than the others.
Methodology
The study compared three techniques: immunomagnetic separation with laser scanning cytometry, cell filtration with laser scanning cytometry, and a multimarker real-time RT–PCR assay.
Limitations
The study's design makes it difficult to compare directly the performance of current techniques.
Participant Demographics
40 patients with metastatic breast cancer and 20 healthy volunteers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95%
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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