A new method for detecting the cancer antigen 17-1A (GA 733-1 and GA 733-2) in peripheral blood and in tissues and determination of metastatic cancer cells in patients with different types of cancer

摘要

The detection of metastatic cancer cells in peripheral blood can be important for various reasons. It could assist in the choice of treatments while at the same time determining, together with the use of other specific indices, the percentage and potential of the patient's response to treatment. The invention concerns a new method for detecting a cancer marker and consists of a sensitive technique using a reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the 17-1A surface antigen. The new method consists of the isolation of total cell MRNA. Part of it is used for the production of supplementary DNA. Metastatic cancer cells are detected by use of special initiators and a novel thermal protocol in a thermal cycliser.