Expression of CK19 in local lymph nodes of 31 patients with N_0-stage gastric carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the prognostic significance of gastric cancer micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes. METHODS:Thirty-one patients with pathologic T_ 1-3 N_0M_0 gastric carcinoma who underwent gastric resection between Jan. 1,1995 and Mar.31,1997 were studied. The sections of the “negative” lymph nodes diagnosed by HE staining were stained immunohistochemically by anti-CK19 monoclonal antibody. Associations between clinicopathological factors and LN micrometastasis as well as micrometastasis and survival were sought. RESULTS: Micrometastasis was found in 32.3%(10/31) of the patients. The occurrence was related with the depth of tumor invasion. The 5-year-survival of the patients with LN micrometastasis was lower than that of ones without micrometastasis. CONCLUSIONS: CK19 is a useful tumor-marker to detect micrometastasis in lymph nodes. It is also of value to predict prognosis, monitor therapeutic effects and offer suggestions for rational treatment.