J Korean Surg Soc.  2004 Mar;66(3):194-198.

Detection of Micrometastasis in Draining Vein before & after Manipulation and Peritoneal Cavity in Colorectal Cancer by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reactions for Cytokeratin 20 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen

• Joo JK
• Lee JH
• Park YK
• Ryu SY
• Kim DY
• Kim YJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
Micrometastasis is known as a significant predictor of prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. Recently, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been applied to detecting micrometastasis. The drainage vein and peritoneum were examined and the micrometastases assessed in a series of colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: 22 patients, who were histologically diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 8 patients of serosal and peritoneal brushing, were examined using RT-PCR to amplify the mRNAs for two epithelial markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK-20). RESULTS: Among the 22 colorectal cancer patients, the positive rates of CK-20 and CEA mRNAs in the drainage vein were 10 (45%) and 7 (32%), and those of the serosal and peritoneal brushing were 6 (75%) and 5 (63%), respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the "no touch isolation technique" might be useful for operations in advanced colorectal cancer patients, and the brushing of the serosal or Douglas pouch can represent the micrometastasis status.

Keyword

Colorecral cancer; Micrometastasis; Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR); carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); Cytokeratin 20 (CK-20)

MeSH Terms

Carcinoembryonic Antigen*
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Douglas' Pouch
Drainage
Humans
Keratin-20*
Keratins*
Neoplasm Micrometastasis*
Peritoneal Cavity*
Peritoneum
Prognosis
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger
Veins*
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Keratin-20
Keratins
RNA, Messenger