Detection of occult breast cancer cells by amplification of CK19 mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction: role of surgical manipulation.

Abstract

1) 7% of early breast cancer patients had circulating tumor cells before surgery. 2) After surgery tumor cells were detected in 17% of patients. 3) Surgery significantly increased the presence of occult breast cancer cells. 4) The clinical significance of occult breast cancer cells should be tested within a larger clinical trial trying to assess their role as an independent prognostic factor.