Identification of Primary Tumor Markers in Occult Bone Marrow Micrometastasis.
Abstract
Identification of micrometastasis at the time of diagnosis of the primary cancer has clinical utility. The presence of epithelial cells in the bone marrow has been found to be a good predictor of disease and relapse free survival. The number of cancer cells in the marrow is insufficient for the pathologists to analyze them morphologically. It is clear that the significance of these cells in breast cancer etiology and progression can be facilitated by culturing these micrometastatic cells and determining their genetic mutations. Therefore, the aims of this proposal was to: (A) Define the culture conditions conducive for the selective growth of cancer cells. The culture conditions was standardized using established human breast cancer cells MCF-7, T47D and MDA-MB-231. (B) Determine the validity of molecular markers, mutant p53 and hsp27, two cellular proteins whose expression reflects increase in metabolic stress as a result of malignant transformation and correlate the expression of these proteins to the propensity of metastatic dissemination. We discovered that epithelial cells can be selectively grown on a microporous hydrophobic polymer, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) using a vertical culture condition that is permeable to oxygen diffusion. Our studies also show that the expression of mutant p53 is correlated with the propensity of metastatic dissemination In conclusion, we have developed a novel culture method that can be utilized to selectively grow epithelial cancer cells and have preliminary evidence to suggest that expression of mutant p53 p2 is a molecular marker that determines the potential for metastatic dissemination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA328819
Entities
People
- Michael P. Osborne
Organizations
- Weill Cornell Medicine