Pattern of Lymph Node Micrometastasis and Prognosis of Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background: Studies of lymph node micrometastases in patients with colorectal cancer have ignored the prognostic significance of the number and level of lymph node micrometastases. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of the status of lymph node micrometastases in histologically node-negative colorectal cancer.Methods: We used immunohistochemistry with anti-cytokeratin antibody CAM5.2 to examine 1013 lymph nodes in 42 patients (12 recurrent and 30 nonrecurrent) with histologically determined Dukes B colorectal cancer. Five serial 6-m sections were used for immunohistochemical staining. The frequency, tumor cell pattern, and number and level of lymph node micrometastases were compared between the recurrent and nonrecurrent groups.Results: Micrometastasis was confirmed in 16% (59/373) of lymph nodes in the recurrent group and 12% (77/640) of lymph nodes in the nonrecurrent group, and the frequency of lymph node micrometastases was 92% (11/12) in the recurrent group and 70% (21/30) in the nonrecurrent group. The tumor cell pattern in the metastatic lymph nodes was similar in the recurrent and nonrecurrent groups. Micrometastasis in four or more lymph nodes occurred more frequently in the recurrent group than in the nonrecurrent group (58% vs. 20%, P < .05), and micrometastasis to N2 or higher nodes occurred more frequently in the recurrent group than in the nonrecurrent group (92% vs. 47%, P < .01).Conclusions: The number and level of positive micrometastatic lymph nodes was significantly correlated with postoperative recurrence of histologically determined Dukes B colorectal cancer. This parameter is a useful prognostic indicator in histologically node-negative colorectal cancer and is helpful in planning adjuvant chemotherapy.     

壶腹周围癌淋巴结微转移的检测及其意义

目的探讨壶腹周围癌淋巴结微转移的检测及其意义。方法采用免疫组化法检测60例壶腹周围癌根治术患者HE染色阴性的淋巴结（220枚）中CK7、CK18及CK19的表达，并结合临床资料及随访结果进行分析。结果60例患者中有17例共43枚淋巴结有微转移；CK19、CK7及CK18的微转移检出率分别为19．55％（43／220）、14．55％（32／220）及11．36％（25／220）；CK19的微转移检出率高于CK7和CK18（P〈0．05）；CK7和CK19的检出率在临床Ⅲ、Ⅳ期高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期（P〈0．05）；有微转移者比无微转移者的1年生存率低（P〈0．05）。结论壶腹周围癌淋巴结微转移可能是肿瘤转移的早期阶段。CK抗体是检测壶腹周围癌淋巴结微转移的有效指标，可为临床综合治疗与预后判断提供理论依据。     

Detection of Bone Marrow Micrometastasis in Gastric Cancer Patients by Immunomagnetic Separation

Background:Micrometastasis to the bone marrow can predict widespread disease and a poor prognosis of cancer patients after surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of detecting micrometastasis in the bone marrow of gastric cancer patients.Methods:Bone marrow and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 53 gastric cancer patients at the time of surgery. These samples were enriched by immunomagnetic separation and immunostained with an anti-cytokeratin antibody. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and erbB-2/HER2 was examined in the primary tumors.Results:Cytokeratin-positive cancer cells were observed in the bone marrow of 16 (30%) of 53 patients. Among them, two patients also had cancer cells in the peripheral blood. The presence of bone marrow micrometastasis was correlated with the depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis but was not associated with peritoneal dissemination. Detection of bone marrow micrometastasis was not correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor or HER2 expression in the primary tumors. Four patients with micrometastasis had recurrence in the liver or lungs, but this did not occur in patients without micrometastasis.Conclusions:Detection of cancer cells in the bone marrow might be an indicator of postoperative hematogenous metastasis in gastric cancer patients.     

胃周阳性淋巴结数目是胃癌的一个预后指标

目的：研究胃周阳性淋巴结数目在胃癌预后中的意义。方法：将１２４例经组织学证实为淋巴结阳性者作为研究对象,分析胃周转移淋巴结数目与临床病理特征及生存率的关系。结果：１２４例胃周淋巴结阳性胃癌患者总的５年生存率为４８．３％,胃周阳性淋巴结超过６个的患者５年生存率明显下降（Ｐ＜０．０１）。与胃周阳性淋巴结≥７个的胃癌相比,阳性淋巴结数≤６个的胃癌常小于４ＣＣ（Ｐ＜０．００５）,多呈大体局限型（Ｐ＜０．０２５）,未侵及浆膜（Ｐ＜０．０１）,巨淋巴结转移多局限于胃周淋巴结（Ｐ＜０．００５）。结论：胃周阳性淋巴结数目与肿瘤进展和生存率相关,是淋巴结阳性胃癌的一个简便有用的预后指标。     

实时荧光定量PCR检测胃癌淋巴结微转移及其临床意义

目的使用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)法检测胃癌淋巴结的微转移情况,并探讨微转移的临床意义。方法收集我院2010年1～6月期间40例行胃癌根治术切除的281枚和10例行胃十二指肠溃疡手术切除的39枚,共计320枚淋巴结标本,以CEA、CK-19和CK-20为引物进行qRT-PCR检测其微转移情况,并分析微转移的临床病理特点。结果 40例胃癌患者中有28例(70.00%)、31枚(15.35%,31/202)淋巴结检测出有微转移。10例胃溃疡的39枚淋巴结标本,HE染色检测和qRT-PCR检测均为阴性。淋巴结微转移的阳性率与肿瘤分化程度、浸润深度和临床分期有关(P<0.05)。结论 qRT-PCR是检测胃癌淋巴结微转移敏感且特异的方法,对胃癌临床分期、判断预后以及治疗方案选择具有重要意义。     

Prognostic Significance of Level and Number of Lymph Node Metastases in Patients with Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND: To present data that provide some insight into the appropriateness of a nodal grouping category and its relation to survival in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: We reviewed data of 777 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had undergone curative gastrectomy to investigate the prognostic significance of level and number of lymph node metastases. RESULTS: The prognosis of patients with gastric cancer was well correlated with the level and number of lymph node metastases. Multivariate analysis indicated that the level and number of lymph node metastases were independent prognostic indicators. Moreover, the number of lymph node metastases was an independent prognostic factor in N1, N2, and N3 patients. The most statistically significant difference in disease-specific survival was observed at a threshold of 11 lymph node metastases, yielding a chi2 value of 42.88, a hazard ratio of 2.523, at a 95% confidence interval of 1.913, 3.329 (P < .0001) by Cox proportional hazard model. On the basis of this result, patients were divided into two groups as follows: marked lymph node metastasis group (number of positive nodes > or =11) and slight lymph node metastasis group (number of positive nodes < or =10). The prognosis of patients with marked lymph node metastasis was statistically significantly worse than that with slight lymph node metastasis in N1, N2, and N3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both level and number were indispensable for evaluating lymph node metastasis. Therefore, addition of the number of positive nodes to the N category defined by the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma may be a useful strategy in the N staging classification in gastric cancer.     

胃癌淋巴管生成、淋巴管浸润及淋巴结微转移的临床意义

目的探讨胃癌淋巴管生成、淋巴管浸润及淋巴结微转移的临床意义。方法免疫组化法检测68例胃癌原发灶中D2-40的表达及其中51例胃癌的791枚淋巴结中CK20和CKpan的表达，结合患者的l临床病理特征进行综合分析。结果胃癌HE染色淋巴管浸润（LVI-HE）和D240染色淋巴管浸润（LVI-IM）的阳性率分别为66．2％（45／68）和76．5％（52／68），差异无统计学意义（P=0．118）。LVI-IM阳性率与肿瘤浸润深度（P=0．044）、TNM分期（P=0．003）及存在淋巴结转移（P=0．000）有关。68例胃癌平均淋巴管密度（LVD）为（18．19&#177;7．44）个／HP.LVD升高与LVI-HE阳性（P=0．040）、LVI—IM阳性（P=0．001）、静脉浸润（P=0．037）、TNM分期较晚（P：0．020）及存在淋巴结转移（P=0．001）有关系。LVD值≥15个／HP者近期生存率较LVD值≤14个／HP者明显降低（P=0．032）。51例胃癌HE染色和CK（CK20或CKpan）染色检出淋巴结转移率分别为74．5％（38／51）和88．2％（45／51），791枚淋巴结的转移淋巴结检出率由HE染色的32．0％（253／791）提高到CK染色的41．5％（328／791），P〈0．001。CKpan的微转移检出率明显高于CK20（P=0．003）。微转移淋巴结数量与肿瘤大小（P=0．001）、LVIHE（P=0．040）、肿瘤浸润深度（P=0．018）及TNM分期（P=0．012）有关。微转移淋巴结的检出使淋巴结转移站别及TNM分期迁移：7例N0→N1，6例N1→N2，1例N2→N3；4例Ⅰb→Ⅱ，4例Ⅱ→Ⅲa，3例Ⅲa→Ⅲb，1例Ⅲb→Ⅳ。结论D2-40及CK检测在诊断淋巴管浸润和淋巴结微转移上优于HE检查。CK20和CKpan的联合检查有利于发现微转移淋巴结。肿瘤TNM分期越晚，越易发生淋巴结微转移。LVI-IM、LVD及淋巴结微转移三者都与胃癌淋巴结转移有关。LVD值较高者近期生存率较低。     

胃癌术中盆腹膜取材检测微转移及其临床意义评估

目的采用胃癌术中直肠子宫（膀胱）陷窝腹膜活检并应用CEA、CK-20免疫组织化学染色的方法确定胃癌腹膜远处的微转移。方法2004年6月至2006年3月期间，选择南京市鼓楼医院40例术前物理学检查和影像学检查未能发现，术中无肉眼及用手可触及的腹膜远处转移的胃癌病例，行术中直肠子宫（膀胱）陷窝腹膜活检并行HE常规染色和CEA、CK-20免疫组织化学染色检查有无腹膜远处微转移。结果本组40例胃癌患者中有10例发生直肠子宫（膀胱）陷窝腹膜的微转移，均发生在肿瘤侵及胃壁全层或浆膜外者[27．8％（10／36）]，其微转移发生率明显高于肿瘤未侵及胃壁全层或浆膜外者[0（0／4）]，P〈0．05。10例中8例淋巴结转移数目均超过6枚，另外2例淋巴结转移数目均为1枚；转移淋巴结数≥7枚时的腹膜微转移发生率[44．4％（8／18）]明显高于转移淋巴结数〈7枚者[16．7％（2／12）]，P〈0．05。10例中，有8例为低分化腺癌，2例为中分化腺癌。结论侵及浆膜或浆膜外的胃癌病例，即使在术前检查或术中探查时未发现远处腹膜转移，术中仍可行直肠子宫（膀胱）陷窝腹膜活检，以发现有无远处腹膜的微转移，为胃癌分期、腹腔内辅助化疗及预测预后提供证据。     

Morphological Distribution of Metastatic Foci in Sentinel Lymph Nodes with Gastric Cancer

Background The TNM classification defines micrometastasis (MM) and isolated tumor cells (ITC) in lymph nodes (LN). Sentinel node (SN) navigation surgery has been introduced in gastrointestinal cancer. Few reports have examined the morphological distribution of MM and ITC of SN in gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of the morphological distribution of cancer cells in SNs according to metastasis (MA), MM, and ITC. Methods All dissected LNs obtained from 160 consecutive patients with mapped SNs arising from cT1–2 N0 tumors were examined. Metastasis in these LNs was examined by histology and cytokeratin staining. The distribution of MA, MM, and ITC was classified as marginal sinus (MS), intermediate sinus (IS), parenchymal (PA), and diffuse types (DF). Results Nodal metastases were detected in 65 SNs from 30 patients and MA, MM, and ITC accounted for 53.9%, 21.5%, and 24.6%, respectively. MS, IS, PA, and DF accounted for 57%, 6%, 17%, and 20.0%, respectively. Patients with metastasis of non-MS had more nodal metastasis in non-SNs (P = .025) and had nodal metastasis in second tier (P = .009), compared with the patients with metastasis of MS. The incidence of metastasis in non-MS was higher in tumors larger than 40 mm than those smaller than 40 mm (P = .011). Conclusion When performing SN navigation surgery in gastric cancer, we should keep in mind that the patients with tumor larger than 40 mm in size and nodal metastasis of non-MS may have non-SN metastasis and nodal metastasis in second tier.     

胃癌淋巴结转移的CT分组定位诊断法

目的：评价CT对胃癌淋巴结转移的诊断价值以及临床应用价值。方法：采用分组定位诊断方法，通过识别CT上作为标志的血管、脏器以确定各组淋巴结所在位置，将CT观察结果与手术所见和病理检查结果相比较，得出CT对各组淋巴结诊断的准确性、特异性、敏感性。结果：CT检查胃癌转移淋巴结准确率较高的为第3、7、9、1、16组等，敏感性较高的为第3、1、7、9、16组等，特异性较高的为第3、7、9、12、1、16组等。结论：分组定位诊断法全面评价了CT对胃癌各组淋巴结转移的诊断性能，将此方法的特点与临床病理、淋巴结转移规律相结合，对提高术前分期准确性、选择合理的治疗方法具有一定价值。     

CK在Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌患者淋巴结中的表达及其临床意义

目的通过检测Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者淋巴结中细胞角蛋白(CK)的表达,确定微转移灶的存在及其与肿瘤复发、转移和预后的关系。方法以CK作为肿瘤标记物,应用免疫组化链霉亲生物素-生物素-过氧化酶复合物(Streptavidin biotin-peroxidase complex,SABC)法,检测根治术后常规病理HE染色阴性的33例Ⅰ期NSCLC患者的246枚淋巴结中的微转移灶。结果33例患者246枚淋巴结中有10例(30.3%)患者的12枚(4.9%)淋巴结中CK阳性表达。有或无CK阳性表达的患者复发转移率差异有统计学意义(80.0%vs.26.1%,χ2=7.015,P=0.016),CK阳性表达患者的中位生存期显著短于CK阴性表达者(21个月vs.60个月,P=0.016);Cox单因素风险模型(P=0.004)和多因素风险模型(P=0.004)均显示存在淋巴结微转移的期NSCLC患者预后不良。结论CK免疫组化染色可以作为检测和判定肺癌淋巴结微转移的有效方法。CK免疫组化染色检测淋巴结微转移与Ⅰ期NSCLC复发转移相关,有助于更加精确的分期,可以作为Ⅰ期NSCLC患者根治术后的一个预后指标,并为其综合治疗提供理论依据。     

残胃癌淋巴结转移的相关研究

目的探讨残胃癌淋巴结转移的特点,为残胃癌术中合理的淋巴结清扫提供依据。方法回顾性分析广西壮族自治区人民医院普外-儿外科2004年6月至2012年6月期间由同一手术者进行残胃癌根治术的22例患者的临床资料,并用等距随机抽样法随机抽取同期原发性胃癌患者50例作为对照,比较2组患者的临床病理资料及术中所清扫淋巴结的转移情况。结果与原发性胃癌患者相比,残胃癌患者联合脏器切除率较高〔54.55%（12/22）比14.00%（7/50）〕,差异有统计学意义（χ2=12.929,P=0.000）。在淋巴结转移方面,残胃癌患者淋巴结总转移阳性率明显高于原发性胃癌患者〔30.56%（103/337）比22.13%（208/940）〕,差异有统计学意义（χ2=9.583,P=0.002）;微转移方面,残胃癌患者淋巴结微转移阳性率高于原发性胃癌〔2.97%（10/337）比1.49%（14/940）〕,但差异无统计学意义（χ2=2.939,P=0.086）。残胃癌患者No.10淋巴结总转移阳性率较原发性胃癌患者高〔52.17%（12/23）比17.39%（4/23）〕,差异有统计学意义（χ2=6.133,P=0.013）;残胃癌患者No.10的12个转移淋巴结中有4个微转移,原发性胃癌中未检出微转移淋巴结。残胃癌空肠系膜淋巴结转移阳性率为35.71%（5/14）。结论残胃癌有其独特的淋巴结转移规律,术中应行D2淋巴结廓清术和空肠系膜淋巴结清扫术,同时应重点对No.10淋巴结进行清扫,必要时行联合脏器切除。     

巢式RT-PCR方法检测胃癌病人周围静脉血癌细胞及其意义

探讨胃癌患者外周血癌细胞的检测及其意义。方法：以CK19作指标,用巢式RT-PCR方法检测42例胃癌患者术前外周血中癌细胞。结果：健康人外周血中不能检测出CK19mRNA表达,用巢式RT-PCR方法检测外周血中胃癌细胞的敏感性可达1/106;42例胃癌病人外周血中检测出CK19mRNA阳性表达13例,阳性率30.9%,阳性结果与肿瘤大小、浸润深度和肿瘤分期密切相关。结论：巢式RT-PCR方法检测胃癌外周血癌细胞具有高度的特异性和敏感性,检测外周血癌细胞有助于判断肿瘤的进展程度。     

Lymphovascular Invasion Enhances the Prediction of Non-Sentinel Node Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients With Positive Sentinel Nodes

Background:Fifty percent of patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases have no metastatic disease in non-SLNs on axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The goal of this study is to determine which patients have metastatic disease limited to the SLN, and, therefore, may not require completion ALND.Methods:Of the first 1000 patients undergoing SLN biopsy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, using a combined blue dye and isotope technique, 231 (26%) had positive SLN. Of these, 206 underwent completion ALND. They are the study group for this report.Results:The likelihood of non-SLN metastasis was inversely related to three clinicopathologic variables: tumor size 1.0 cm; absence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI); and SLN micrometastases ( 2 mm). None of 24 patients with all three predictive factors had non-SLN metastases, whereas 58% of patients with none of the factors had disease in the non-SLN.Conclusion:Patients with small breast cancers, no LVI, and SLN micrometastases have a low risk of non-SLN metastases, and may not require completion ALND.Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16-19, 2000     

Clinical Implications of Micrometastasis Detection in Internal Mammary Nodes of Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of step-serial sectioning (SSS) combined with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in detecting micrometastasis of internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 135 IMLNs from 88 breast cancer patients were re-examined by SSS, combined with either H&E or IHC staining of the biomarkers cytokeratin-19 and epithelial membrane antigen. RESULTS: Of the 135 IMLNs, 6 nodes from 5 cases displayed 1 or more micrometastases. Histological grade and lymphovascular invasion status were significantly correlated with micrometastasis in the IMLNs (p = 0.018 and 0.001, respectively). Of the 6 nodes positive for micrometastasis, 1 node was detected by both H&E and IHC staining. The remaining 5 nodes from 4 cases showed evident tumor cells only by IHC staining. Finally 8 of the 83 patients (9.64%) without IMLN metastasis showed distant metastasis, while 2 of the 5 patients (40%) with IMLN metastasis showed distant metastasis within 28 months of operation. CONCLUSION: SSS combined with H&E and IHC staining is more efficient in detecting micrometastasis than classic routine single-slice H&E only.     

The Prognosis of Patients Operated on for Gastric Cancer in Relation to the Percentage of Lymph Nodes Invaded by Tumour

Introduction : In evaluating the type of gastrectomy and lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer, adequate prognosis has been dependant on the retrieval of at least 15 lymph nodes. We propose an alternative method in which the prognostic value is evaluated, according to whether or not more than 20% of the retrieved lymph nodes are invaded by tumour.

Materials & Methods : Sixty-five patients (36 men, 29 women) with a median age of 69 years (mean age 68.9 ± 12.1 years) were evaluated, who were operated upon between 1985 and 1999 for gastric cancer by gastrectomy with either D1 or D2 lymphadenectomy.

Results : The average number of retrieved lymph nodes was 10.4 ± 8.6. In 51 patients (78.5%) less than 15 and in 14 patients (21.5%) 15 or more lymph nodes were retrieved, according to the TNM guidelines. In our study, there is a statistically significant difference in prognosis between patients with less than 20% and those with more than 20% of the retrieved lymph nodes invaded by tumour, irrespective of the total number of lymph nodes resected. Conclusion : Gastric cancer patients in whom less than 20% of the retrieved lymph nodes are invaded, have a significantly better prognosis compared with patients in whom 20% or more of the lymph nodes retrieved are invaded by tumour, irrespective of the total number of retrieved lymph nodes.     

Gene Expression Profile of Primary Gastric Cancer: Towards the Prediction of Lymph Node Status

BACKGROUND: The identification of gastric tumors associated with a higher risk of lymph node metastasis could help surgeons select patients who may benefit from extended lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to screen the genome in the search of primary gastric cancer gene expression profiles that might predict lymph node status. METHODS: The gene expression profile was evaluated in frozen tumor samples obtained from 32 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinomas. The array consisted of a duplicated spot panel of 5,541 human genes. To classify node-positive (N+) and node-negative (N-) cases, a logistic regression model was fitted optimizing the Akaike Information Criteria after a stepwise gene selection. The accuracy was evaluated by means of leave-one-out cross validation. RESULTS: All patients underwent radical gastrectomy and extended lymphadenectomy. Of all the cases, 21 were N+ and 11 demonstrated no lymph node involvement (N-). After quality filtering, the analysis of variance selected a set of 136 genes potentially correlated with nodal involvement (P value <.05). Of these 136 genes, 5 were differentially expressed (adjusted P value <.05). After a stepwise gene selection, only three genes (Bik, aurora kinase B, eIF5A2) were retained in the logistic model, which could correctly predict lymph node status in 30 of 32 cases. CONCLUSIONS: If our findings were confirmed, the identified gene pattern might be used to tailor the extent of lymph node dissection on a single patient basis.     

大肠癌前哨淋巴结微转移的检测及其临床意义

为探讨大肠癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）微转移（MM）的检测方法及其临床意义,我们对64例行根治性手术的DukesB期大肠癌患者SLN进行定位;应用常规HE染色联合免疫组化SIP法染色,对定位成功的122枚SLN中细胞角蛋白20（CK20）及端粒酶进行检测,并分析其表达与I临床病理因素的相关性。结果显示：（1）SLN定位成功61例（95．3％）,共获取SLN122枚。（2）定位成功的61例中,有6例9枚SLN常规HE染色阳性;余55例113枚SLNHE染色阴性,其中免疫组化染色CK20阳性15例（27．3％）,端粒酶阳性12例（21．8％）,两者联合检测SLNMM阳性21例（38．2％）。（3）DukesB期大肠癌患者SLNMM（＋）组癌的复发转移率明显高于同期SLNMM（-）组（P〈0．05）,生存率明显降低（P〈0．05）;而与DukesC期复发转移率及生存率比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。（4）SLNMM（-）组患者的复发转移率、生存率与同期DukesC期患者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（5）DukesB期大肠癌患者SLNMM的发生与患者年龄、性别及肿瘤侵犯肠管周径、生长方式、生长部位均无显著相关,而与肿瘤分化程度及大小、外周血癌胚抗原（CEA）值显著相关。结果表明,应用免疫组化法联合检测CK20和端粒酶,可提高大肠癌SLNMM的检出率;大肠癌SLNMM的检出能精确大肠癌的Dukes分期,有助于指导术后的辅助治疗和预后判断。     

Micrometastasis to In-Transit Lymph Nodes From Extremity and Truncal Malignant Melanoma

Background: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node in the regional nodal basin to receive metastatic cells. In-transit nodes are found between the primary melanoma site and regional nodal basins. To date, this is one of the first reports on micrometastasis to in-transit nodes.Methods: Retrospective database and medical records were reviewed from October 21, 1993, to November 19, 1999. At the UCSF Melanoma Center, patients with tumor thickness >1 mm or <1 mm with high-risk features are managed with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, selective SLN dissection, and wide local excision.Results: Thirty (5%) out of 557 extremity and truncal melanoma patients had in-transit SLNs. Three patients had positive in-transit SLNs and negative SLNs in the regional nodal basin. Two patients had positive in-transit and regional SLNs. Three patients had negative in-transit SLNs but positive regional SLNs. The remaining 22 patients were negative for in-transit and regional SLNs.Conclusions: In-transit SLNs may harbor micrometastasis. About 10% of the time, micrometastasis may involve the in-transit and not the regional SLN. Therefore, both in-transit and regional SLNs should be harvested.Supported in part by a grant from the Eva B. Buck Charitable Trust.     

次级淋巴组织趋化因子在胃癌淋巴结转移中的作用

目的：研究次级淋巴组织趋化因子（secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine,SLC)在胃癌淋巴结中的表达，以进一步阐明胃癌淋巴转移的机制。方法：用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）测定29例胃癌组织淋巴结中SLC mRNA的表达。结果：胃癌转移淋巴结中SLC mRNA的表达均显著低于相应的正常胃黏模组织，但其表达与病人的临床病理特征并不相关。结论：在胃癌转移淋巴结中，SLC的表达明显受抑，后者可能在胃癌的淋巴结转移中起了重要作用，提高淋巴结中SLC的表达可能成为控制胃癌转移和复发的又一关键途径。