Waldman SA, Cagir B, Rakinic J, Fry RD, Goldstein SD, Isenberg G, Barber M, Biswas S, Minimo C, Palazzo J, Park PK, Weinberg D. Use of guanylyl cyclase C for detecting micrometastases in lymph nodes of patients with colon cancer.
Dis Colon Rectum 1998;
41:310-5. [PMID:
9514425 DOI:
10.1007/bf02237484]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Guanylyl cyclase C appears to be expressed only in colorectal cancer cells in extraintestinal tissues. Thus, guanylyl cyclase C may be useful as a marker to detect colorectal cancer micrometastases not detectable by histopathology in lymph nodes of patients.
METHODS
Twelve patients with colon adenocarcinoma, Dukes Stages A through C2, and one patient with a tubulovillous adenoma were included in this study. Forty-two lymph nodes were collected from fresh surgical specimens, and each was examined by histopathology and reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers. Histopathology identified colon cancer cells in 6 of 16 lymph nodes from five Dukes Stage C patients but not in lymph nodes from the patient with a tubulovillous adenoma, the Dukes Stage A patient, or six Dukes Stage B patients. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers was performed on all 42 lymph nodes.
RESULTS
Guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA was not detected by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction in lymph nodes from the patient with the tubulovillous adenoma or the patient with Dukes Stage A colon carcinoma. Seven lymph nodes from Dukes Stage C patients revealed guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA including six lymph nodes containing histopathologically confirmed metastases. Of significance, guanylyl cyclase C messenger RNA was detected in 6 of 21 lymph nodes from Dukes Stage B patients. Indeed, clinical staging of two patients could be upgraded from B to C using reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers.
CONCLUSION
Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction using guanylyl cyclase C-specific primers might be useful to more accurately assess micrometastases in lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients undergoing disease staging.
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