The relationship between the expression of GalNAcT and CK19 mRNA and bone marrow micrometastases of breast cancer

Objective: To study the relation of the expression of β1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase(GalNAcT) and cytokeration 19(CK19) mRNA and in breast cancer with micrometastases in bone marrow.Methods: RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of GalNAcT and CK19 mRNA in the bone marrow from 40 patients with breast cancer.The bone marrow from 10 patients with benign blood diseases and the blood from 5 normal healthy volunteers served as controls.Results: The positive rates of GalNAcT and CK19 mRNA expressions in the bone marrow of the patients with breast cancer were 42.5%(17/40) and 27.5%(11/40) respectively.No expressions of GalNAcT mRNA and CK19 mRNA were found in the bone marrow of the 10 patients with benign diseases and the 5 healthy volunteers.The GalNAcT and CK19 mRNA expressions were correlated with TNM stages.There was no significant difference between the micrometastasis and other clinical parameters.Conclusions: The GalNAcT and CK19 mRNA expressions may be potential tumor markers for the detection of micrometastasis in the bone marrow of patients with breast cancer.