Detection of breast cancer metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes using intra-operative real time GeneSearch BLN Assay in the operating room: results of the Cardiff study

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Jun;115(3):595-600. doi: 10.1007/s10549-008-0155-6. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

Background: Intra-operative assessment is not routinely performed in the UK due to poor sensitivity of available methods and overburdened pathology resources. We conducted a prospective clinical feasibility study of the GeneSearch Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay (Veridex, LLC, Warren, NJ) to confirm its potential usefulness within the UK healthcare system.

Methods: In the assay 50% of the lymph node was processed to detect the presence of cytokeratin-19 and mammaglobin mRNA. The assay was calibrated to detect metastases >0.2 mm. Assay results were compared to H&E performed on each face of approximately 2 mm alternating node slabs and 3 additional sections cut at approximately 150 microm interval from each face of the node slab.

Results: 124 sentinel lymph nodes were removed from 82 breast cancer patients. The assay correctly identified all 6 patients with sentinel node macrometastases (>2.0 mm), and 2 of 3 patients with sentinel node micrometastases (0.2-2.0 mm). Sentinel lymph nodes in 4 patients were assay positive but histology negative. Two of these four patients had isolated tumor cells seen by histology. The overall concordance with histology was 93.9% (77/82), with sensitivity of 88.9% (8/9, 95% CI 56.5-98%), specificity of 94.6% (69/73, 95% CI 86.7-97.8%), positive predictive value of 66.7% (8/12, 95% CI 39.1-86.2%) and negative predictive value of 98.6% (69/70, 95% CI 92.3-99.7%). The assay was performed in a median time of 32 min (range 26-69 min).

Conclusion: Intra-operative assessment of sentinel lymph node can be performed rapidly and accurately using the GeneSearch BLN Assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biological Assay
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Period
  • Keratin-19 / genetics
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mammaglobin A
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Survival Rate
  • Uteroglobin / genetics

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Keratin-19
  • Mammaglobin A
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SCGB2A2 protein, human
  • Uteroglobin