Isolated tumor cells in bone marrow three years after diagnosis in disease-free breast cancer patients predict unfavorable clinical outcome.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the value of analyzing bone marrow (BM) for the presence of isolated tumor cell(s) (ITCs) in disease-free breast cancer patients 3 years after diagnosis.

Experimental Design: ITCs in BM at operation was found to be an independent prognostic factor in 817 breast cancer patients. Among these, 356 disease-free patients were analyzed with a second BM after 3 years follow-up (median 40 months, SD 3 months, range 29-52).

The prognostic value of isolated tumor cells in bone marrow in breast cancer patients: evaluation of morphological categories and the number of clinically significant cells.

Unlabelled: PURPOSE/EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunocytochemical detection of isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in the bone marrow (BM) is a prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, hematopoietic cells (HCs) can occasionally be stained by the techniques used. Morphological evaluation improves the specificity of ITC detection, but optimal separation of ITCs from false-positive HCs needs to be determined.