Micrometastatic tumor detection in patients with head and neck cancer: a preliminary report.

Objective: To apply a new immunocytochemistry (ICC) assay to peripheral blood samples for micrometastatic circulating tumor cell detection in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

Design: The ICC assay uses established monoclonal antibodies that bind to tumor-associated antigens combined with an enrichment system that uses positive selection with anti-human epithelial antigen (EpCAM antibody) to detect circulating tumor cells.

Subjects: Eighteen consecutive patients newly diagnosed as having HNSCC are described.