Prognostic significance of EpCAM-positive disseminated tumor cells in rectal cancer patients with stage I disease.

摘要: Here we evaluated the prevalence and prognostic impact of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-positive disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in stage I rectal cancer. Further tested association these single or small groups with extent peritumoral lymphangiogenesis. A total 845 regional lymph nodes (LN) 44 patients classified as negative on conventional histopathology were retrospectively reanalyzed immunohistochemistry (IHC) using monoclonal antibody Ber-Ep4 directed against EpCAM for detection DTCs. The degree lymphangiogenesis primary tumors was assessed by IHC tissue D2-40, which reacts lymphatic endothelium. results correlated clinico-pathologic parameters clinical follow-up data. EpCAM-positive DTCs LNs detected 8 (18.2%) patients. During a median 59 months, 3 (37.5%) relapsed, whereas none DTC-negative developed recurrence (P=0.004). Survival analysis revealed significant effect overall survival (P=0.0009) recurrence-free (P=0.0001). Finally, perirectal significantly high density vessels (P=0.015). Our show that may occur cancer are associated poor prognosis. Their occurrence seems to be linked newly formed vessel at site. According our data, their LN might benefit from adjuvant therapy.