Quantitative Multimarker Molecular Assay to Detect Hematogenous Breast CancerMetastasis

摘要

Detection of metastatic tumor cells in blood and tissue by single marker Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) has shown potential value in clinical diagnosis. We have successfully developed unique approach using multimarker, quantitative analysis and automated Southern blot detection system to provide highly stringent large scale analysis. Our experience in other cancers and viral nucleic detection will be applied to breast cancer. In this proposal, we plan to test our hypothesis that a multimarker molecular assay can be clinically useful in detection hematogenous metastasis in breast cancer patients of different clinical and pathological stages of disease. The objective is to improve diagnosis and monitor patients for metastatic disease.