Detection of Occult Breast Cancer Micrometastases in Axillary Lymph Nodes Using a Multimarker Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel

Abstract

Multimarker RT-PCR analysis appears to be a readily available and highly sensitive method for the detection of axillary lymph node micrometastases. Longterm followup of RT-PCR positive patients will be required to determine its clinical relevance. If validated as a predictor of disease recurrence, this method would provide a powerful complement to routine histopathologic analysis of axillary lymph nodes.