The use of RT-nested PCR of prostate specific antigen to detect hematogenous neoplastic cells in patiens with prostate adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of hematogenous neoplastic cells in patients with prostate cancer. We used a reverse transcription (RT) 'nested' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA to detect the presence of circulating tumor cells in 52 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy with lymphadenectomy. Blood samples were obtained before and after the surgical manipulation. Seven (13.5%) preoperative samples presented evidence of circulating neoplastic cells. All postoperative specimens studied presented a negative result at analysis 24 h after surgical manipulation. Although we did not find a statistical correlation between the PSA-PCR results and clinical-histopathological parameters, the presence of circulating prostate cells was strongly correlated with an elevated Gleason score of primary tumor (P[removed]