Diagnosis of micrometastasis in lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer by using CK18 mRNA RT-PCR

Objective To study the micrometastasis in lymph nodes of the patients with gastric cancer and its clinical significances. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was used to detect CK18 mRNA expression in 298 lymph nodes from 35 patients with gastric cancer and 20 lymph nodes from control group. Results There was no CK18 mRNA expression in control group. In experimental group, the positive rates of CK18 mRNA expression detected with routine histology and RT PCR were 33 2% (99/298) and 44 6% (133/298),respectively,there was significant difference ( P 0 05). Of lymph nodes in which routine histology failed to find metaslasis, 17 1% lymph nodes were found the micrometastasis by CK18 mRNA RT PCR. Conclusion CK18 mRNA RT PCR is more sensitive than routine histology for detecting the micrometastasis in lymph nodes of gastric cancer, and has important clinical significances in evaluating clinical staging, predicting prognosis and directing postoperative treatment.