Detection of bone marrow micrometastases in patients with primaiy breast câncer: correlations with pTNM stage, age and histological grade
Keywords:
Breast cancer, Post-surgical stage, Bone marrow, MicrometastasesAbstract
As the early occu/t dissemination of tumor cells is one ofthe major causes of relapse after
local treatment, the detection of epithellal cells (micrometastases) in the bone marrow of
breast câncer patients may have prognostic implications. The aim of th is study was to detect
micrometastases in bone marrow, using a molecular bioiogicai method, immunocytochemestry,
and correlate them with prognosis and other clinicai and pathological features on the seiected
patients. Bone marrow aspiration was obtained from 37patients at stages I, II or IIIA, already
with indication of surgery treatment. Bone marrow punch was performed in anterior iiiac crest,
immediately before the breast câncer operation, and stored in heparin-treated tubes. For the
immunocytochemical anaiysis we use d monoclonal antibody pancytokeratin. Our results show
sensitivity and specificity for immunocythemicai techniques. The presence of micrometastases
positive cases induded 23.6% of the patients without and 72.2% of those with lymph node
metastases. We conduded that the presence of micrometastases in bone marrow had a
statistically significant correiation with the histologic grade ofthe tumor and with the number
ofiymph node metastases. The presence of micrometastases in bone marrow identifies patients
with node nega tive disease who are at a risk for recurrence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tereza sollero claudio da-Silva, Rosane Bizon, Maria Helena Nicola, Radovan Borojevic, Maurício Magalhães Costa
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