No clinical relevance of cytokeratin positive cells in bone marrow of patients with primary breast cancer

Background: Bone marrow samples from 2017 patients operated for primary breast cancer (stage T1–4, N0/N+, M0) at the University Hospital Heidelberg between 1999 und 2005 were analysed for disseminated tumor cells (DTC) on cytospin slides using cytokeratin (CK) specific antibodies and the APAAP and SA-AP detection systems. Material and Methods: DTC were stained using CK antibodies 5D3 and A45. Slides were analysed by automated picture analysis with the ACIS II system (ChromaVision). Criteria for classification of disseminated tumor cells were in compliance with the publication of Fehm et al. (Cancer, Vol.107, 200…