Perioperative cancer cell dissemination detected with a real-time RT-PCR assay for EpCAM is not associated with worse prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) has been used as surrogate marker for the quantification of circulating tumour cells (CTC). Our aim was to prospectively study the value of a real-time RT-PCR assay for EpCAM detection in the peripheral blood and peritoneal cavity of patients undergoing pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

From 48 patients with PDAC (40 resectable, 8 unresectable) and 10 patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing pancreatectomy 10 ml of venous blood was drawn preoperatively (PB) and postoperatively (POB, day 1 (D1B), day 7 (D7B) and after 6 weeks (6WB). Of all patients undergoing pancreatectomy, 40 ml peritoneal lavage fluid was taken preoperatively and postoperatively. A real-time RT-PCR assay (TaqMan, AB

SUBMITTER: Sergeant G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3045357 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature