Specific detection of carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing tumor cells in bone marrow aspirates by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract

Since approximately 30% of the colorectal carcinoma patients that score negative in immunocytology staining of bone marrow samples have been reported to relapse, earlier diagnosis of the presence of malignant cells is needed. Our result that samples scoring positive in the described CEA-specific PCR test remained negative by two immunostaining methods suggests a higher sensitivity. We conclude that PCR amplification of CEA mRNA may lead to an earlier diagnosis of micrometastatic bone disease in patients with CEA-expressing carcinomas.