Abstract
We examined the expression of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in the peripheral blood of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Eleven out of 12 oral SCC patients showed positive RT-PCR results. However, there is no clear relationship between the haematogenous CK20 mRNA and the metastasis. After initial treatment, all of the tumour-free survivors tested showed negative RT-PCR results. CK20 mRNA in peripheral blood can be used as a marker for tumour recurrence but not not for metastasis in oral SCC patients.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
- Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
- Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / blood
- Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / pathology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / blood*
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
- Humans
- Intermediate Filament Proteins / blood*
- Keratin-20
- Male
- Mouth Neoplasms / blood*
- Mouth Neoplasms / pathology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / blood*
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / metabolism*
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology
- RNA, Messenger / blood*
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Intermediate Filament Proteins
- KRT20 protein, human
- Keratin-20
- RNA, Messenger