This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vogel, I. Articles by Juhl, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vogel, I. Articles by Juhl, H.

Disseminated Tumor Cells in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Detected by Immunocytology: A New Prognostic Factor¹

Department of Surgery, Christian-Albrechts-University, D-24105 Kiel, Germany [I. V., U. K., J. M., E. S., H. K., D. H-B., B. K.], and Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. 20007 [H. J.]

Using an immunocytological approach, we previously showed that disseminated cancer cells are frequently found in peritoneal cavity and bone marrow samples of gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer patients. Recently, we demonstrated that the detection of isolated tumor cells could serve as a new prognostic factor in gastric and colorectal cancer. Thus far, no conclusive data concerning the clinical implication of minimal residual disease in pancreatic cancer exist. In this study, we investigated peritoneal lavage and bone marrow samples of 80 pancreatic cancer patients to determine the predictive value of immunocytologically detected disseminated tumor cells. Therefore, immunocytological findings were correlated with the clinical follow-up data (median observation time, 10.7 months; range, 2–61 months), and the findings in peritoneal cavity and bone marrow samples were compared. Fifty-two % of the patients showed minimal residual disease at least in one compartment (39% positive lavage and 38% positive bone marrow samples). The detection rate of isolated tumor cells increased in parallel to the tumor stage. The presence of tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity significantly correlated with the survival time of the patients (P = 0.0035). In bone marrow samples, a strong trend was seen (P = 0.06). The evaluation of both compartments increased the number of positive patients and resulted in a highly significant correlation: all patients who were positive in at least one compartment died within 18 months, whereas negative patients showed a 5-year survival rate of 30% (P < 0.0001). We recommend immunocytological investigation of peritoneal cavity and bone marrow samples as a new prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Janni, B. Rack, K. Lindemann, and N. Harbeck Detection of Micrometastatic Disease in Bone Marrow: Is It Ready for Prime Time? Oncologist, August 1, 2005; 10(7): 480 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Weihrauch, E. Skibowski, T. C. Koslowsky, W. Voiss, D. Re, F. Kuhn-Regnier, C. Bannwarth, M. Siedek, V. Diehl, and H. Bohlen Immunomagnetic Enrichment and Detection of Micrometastases in Colorectal Cancer: Correlation With Established Clinical Parameters J. Clin. Oncol., November 1, 2002; 20(21): 4338 - 4343. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]