Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.69(4) > 1007633

Kim, Chung, Choi, Jung, Lee, Chae, Jun, and Chin: The Detection of Messenger RNA for Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Cytokeratin 20 in Peritoneal Washing Fluid in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Background/Aims

Peritoneal micrometastasis is known to play an important role in the recurrence of gastric cancer. However, its effects remain equivocal. Herein, we examine the messenger RNA (mRNA) as tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cytokeratin 20 (CK20), in peritoneal washing fluid. Moreover, we evaluate whether these results could predict the recurrence of gastric cancer following curative resection.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 132 patients with gastric cancers, who had received an operation, between January 2010 and January 2013. The peritoneal lavage fluid was collected at the operation field and semi-quantitative PCR was performed using the primers for CEA and CK20. We excluded patients with stage IA (n=28) early gastric cancer, positive cytologic examination of peritoneal washings (n=7), and those who were lost during follow up (n=18).

Results

A total of 79 patients with gastric cancers were enrolled, and the mean follow-up period was 39.95±19.25 months (range, 5–72 months). According to the multivariate analysis, T4 stage at the initial diagnosis was significantly associated with recurrence. All cases of recurrence were CEA positive and 6 cases were CK20 positive. The positive and negative predictive values of CEA were 32.0% and 100%, respectively, whereas those of CK20 were 37.5% and 71.4%, respectively. Disease free survival of CK20-negative cases was 36.17±20.28 months and that of CK20-positive cases was 32.06±22.95 months (p=0.39).

Conclusions

It is unlikely that the real time polymerase chain reaction results of mRNA for CEA and CK20 in peritoneal washing fluid can predict recurrence. However, negative results can convince surgeons to perform curative R0 resection.

References

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Fig. 1.
RT-PCR for mRNA of CEA and CK20. RT-PCR, real time polymerase chain reaction; mRNA, messenger RNA; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; CK20, cytokeratin 20; GPADH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
kjg-69-220f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Kaplan-Meier curve for analyzing DFS between the CK20 negative and positive groups. DFS, disease free survival; CK20, cytokeratin 20; mRNA, messenger RNA.
kjg-69-220f2.tif
Table 1.
Clinical Features of Recurrence in the Patients with Gastric Cancers
  Recurrence (n=24) Non-recurrence (n=55) p-value
Age 62.04±13.43 62.53±12.08 0.91
Sex (male: female) 16: 8 41: 14 0.47
Smoke 7 15 0.86
Alcohol drinking 13 31 0.86
Body mass index (kg/m2) 23.96±3.16 23.01±3.56 0.37
Presence of atrophy 10 30 0.29
Lauren classification (Diffuse) 12 24 0.60
Differentiation (Poorly differentiated / Signet ring cell cancer) 15 27 0.08
Lymphatic invasion 19 25 <0.01 a
Vascular invasion 12 10 <0.01 a
Perineural invasion 15 19 0.02 a
Number of dissected lymph nodes at operation 42.75±13.84 37.15±15.55 0.28
T stage at diagnosis (T4) 18 8 <0.01 a
N stage at diagnosis (N3) 12 7 <0.01 a
Chemotherapy 24 42
Positive result of mRNA-CEA in peritoneal washing 24 51
Positive result of mRNA-CK20 in peritoneal washing 6 10 0.49
Recurrence      
 Multiple lesions 10    
 Lymph node 11    
 Liver 5    
 Peritoneum 6    
 Colon 3    
 Pancreas 3    
 Bone 2    
 Ovary 2    
 Lung 1    
 Stoma 2    

mRNA, messenger RNA; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; CK20, cytokeratin 20.

a Statistically significant.

Table 2.
Multivariate Analysis of the Factors of Recurrence in the Patients with Gastric Cancers
  Sig. Exp(B) 95.0% C.I. for EXP(B)
Lower Upper
Positive result of mRNA-CK20 in peritoneal washing 0.22 2.69 0.56 12.88
Differentiation (poorly differentiated and signet ring cell type) 0.28 0.43 0.10 1.96
Lymphatic invasion 0.87 1.15 0.22 6.13
Vascular invasion 0.27 2.51 0.48 13.02
Perineural invasion 0.81 1.19 0.29 4.96
T stage at diagnosis (T4) <0.01 a 11.79 2.23 62.21
N stage at diagnosis (N3) 0.17 2.91 0.64 13.30

mRNA, messenger RNA; CK20, cytokeratin 20.

a Statistically significant.

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