Prognostic Significance of ‘Micrometastases’

Abstract

With the introduction of monoclonal antibodies in immunohistochemistry and im-munocytology the detection of single disseminated tumor cells became achievable. In breast cancer as well as in gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, and other malignant tumors disseminated tumor cells are present in bone marrow aspirations with a high prevalence. The frequency of positive aspirations as well as the average cell number correlate with the tumor stage. Regarding the prognostic significance of the so-called micrometastases several groups could demonstrate, that the presence of these cells in bone marrow, lymph nodes or peritoneal washings is an independent risk factor for tumor relapse and survival. Future investigations should focus on the quantitative aspect of micrometastases, the phenotype, and the tumorigenic potential of the individual micrometastatic cells.