BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of bone marrow micrometastases in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is undetermined, and the value of such analyses in advanced stage patients has not been assessed previously. METHODS: Immunomagnetic selection with the MOC31 (anti-EpCam) antibody was performed to isolate and detect tumor cells in bone marrow aspirates obtained from 196 patients with NSCLC, and the patients were subjected to follow-up for the assessment of survival. Repeated bone marrow samples, 2-7 samples per patient, were obtained from 13 long-term survivors. RESULTS: MOC31 positive tumor cells were detected in 107 of 196 (55%) samples, a frequency similar to results reported in low-stage patients prior to curative surgical resection for NSCLC. No association was found between the presence of bone marrow micrometastases and disease stage or histological subgroup, and survival was similar in patients with and without detectable tumor cells in bone marrow. Repeated bone marrow analysis revealed, for the first time in this group of patients, the continued presence of tumor cells regardless of the given therapy and treatment response. CONCLUSION: The immunomagnetic method utilized is a feasible strategy for the detection of bone marrow micrometastases in NSCLC. In advanced stage patients, the presence of MOC31 positive cells in bone marrow does not predict survival. Repeated analyses of bone marrow samples from long-term survivors revealed tumor cells in bone marrow which may represent dormant cells of particular interest for further characterization and follow-up.
BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of bone marrow micrometastases in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is undetermined, and the value of such analyses in advanced stage patients has not been assessed previously. METHODS: Immunomagnetic selection with the MOC31 (anti-EpCam) antibody was performed to isolate and detect tumor cells in bone marrow aspirates obtained from 196 patients with NSCLC, and the patients were subjected to follow-up for the assessment of survival. Repeated bone marrow samples, 2-7 samples per patient, were obtained from 13 long-term survivors. RESULTS: MOC31 positive tumor cells were detected in 107 of 196 (55%) samples, a frequency similar to results reported in low-stage patients prior to curative surgical resection for NSCLC. No association was found between the presence of bone marrow micrometastases and disease stage or histological subgroup, and survival was similar in patients with and without detectable tumor cells in bone marrow. Repeated bone marrow analysis revealed, for the first time in this group of patients, the continued presence of tumor cells regardless of the given therapy and treatment response. CONCLUSION: The immunomagnetic method utilized is a feasible strategy for the detection of bone marrow micrometastases in NSCLC. In advanced stage patients, the presence of MOC31 positive cells in bone marrow does not predict survival. Repeated analyses of bone marrow samples from long-term survivors revealed tumor cells in bone marrow which may represent dormant cells of particular interest for further characterization and follow-up.
Authors: Hang Li; Bin Li; Yunjian Pan; Yang Zhang; Jiaqing Xiang; Yawei Zhang; Yihua Sun; Xiang Yu; Wei He; Hong Hu Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-01-28 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: A K Rud; E Borgen; G M Mælandsmo; K Flatmark; H Le; D Josefsen; I Solvoll; C B Schirmer; Å Helland; L Jørgensen; O T Brustugun; Ø Fodstad; K Boye Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2013-08-13 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Juan P Cata; Varun Chukka; Hao Wang; Lei Feng; Vijaya Gottumukkala; Fernando Martinez; Ara A Vaporciyan Journal: BMC Anesthesiol Date: 2013-11-15 Impact factor: 2.217