Frequency of cytokeratin positive stroma cells in bone marrow of patients with primary breast cancer – Standardized immunocytology and RT-PCR

Background: Bone marrow (BM) 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: Cytospin-slides (mean 6) with 1×106 BM-cells (area 240mm2) were stained with 5D3 or A45 antibodies and analysed by automated picture analysis with the ACIS II system (ChromaVision). Results: Criteria for classification of disseminated tumor cells were in compliance wi…