Validation of intra-operative detection of paratracheal lymph node metastasis using real-time RT-PCR targeting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We previously reported that there was a significant correlation between paratracheal lymph node (LN) metastasis and cervical LN metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. The purpose of this study was to establish an intra-operative detection method of LN micrometastasis (MM) of ESCC using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time RT-PCR with a Light Cycler technique, and to evaluate which method, or combination of methods, is most suitable for intra-operative detection of paratracheal LN MM.

METHODS:

Under informed consent, we obtained 33 dissected paratracheal LN samples from 22 operative patients with ESCC. Afterwards, one LN was separated into three parts by a sharp razor, and each part was checked for metastasis by HE staining, IHC with anti-cytokeratin antibody and real-time RT-PCR for SCC mRNA with a Light Cycler.

RESULTS:

It took 3 h for detection by real-time RT-PCR, while it took 2 h by IHC. The detection rates of MM by HE staining, IHC and real-time RT-PCR were 50.0, 33.3 and 83.3%, respectively. However, there was a case of false negative detection that was not detected by IHC or PCR.

CONCLUSION:

The real-time RT-PCR method was useful for intra-operative detection of paratracheal LN metastasis. However, combination analysis of HE staining, IHC and real-time RT-PCR may be desirable because there was a case of false negative detection by IHC and real-time RT-PCR.

• Authors: Shiro Nagatani, Yutaka Shimada, Zhigang Li, Junichi Kaganoi, Takatsugu Kan, Masato Maeda, Go Watanabe, Masayuki Imamura
• Journal: Japanese journal of clinical oncology (Jpn J Clin Oncol) Vol. 33 Issue 11 Pg. 549-55 (Nov 2003) ISSN: 0368-2811 [Print] England
• PMID: 14711978 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Validation Study)

Chemical References

• Hematoxylin

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (secondary, surgery)
• Cell Cycle
• Esophageal Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• Hematoxylin
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lymph Nodes (pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Staining and Labeling