Minimal Residual Disease in Gastric Cancer: Evidence of an Independent Prognostic Relevance of Urokinase Receptor Expression by Disseminated Tumor Cells in the Bone Marrow

Abstract

This is the first large study to show that u-PAR, detected on disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow, is an independent prognostic parameter in gastric cancer, in contrast to the mere detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). u-PAR may be a promising marker to define a critical subpopulation of disseminated tumor cells and a target to eliminate MRD. Molecular phenotyping of MRD is critical for defining its individual clinical relevance.