Detection of disseminated tumor cells in patients with cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: Detection of disseminated tumor cells in a cohort of patients presenting the entire spectrum of invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: Disseminated tumor cells were detected in blood samples taken at different times during surgery or in bone marrow aspirates by a HPV type-specific nested PCR enzyme immunoassay (n-PCR-EIA). A group of 24 patients with HPV-positive cervical cancers representing early and late stages were evaluated, and 15 patients with breast cancer and without HPV-related genital disease served as controls. RESULTS: Disseminated tumor cells were detected in blood samples and/or bone marrow aspirates of 6 of 24 patients. A significant association was found between detectable disseminated tumor cells and recurrent disease ( P=0.013) and between disseminated tumor cells and survival of the patients ( P=0.0054). There was also a clear association between the presence of disseminated tumor cells and tumor size and/or positive lymph node status which, however, was not statistically significant. There was no evidence of increased shedding of tumor cells during surgery. CONCLUSION: Detection of disseminated tumor cells in blood or bone marrow may prove to be of prognostic value, particularly for early-stage cervical cancers.