ABSTRACT
Purpose: Detect cytokeratin 19 mRNA(CK-19 mRNA) in nucleated cells in peripheral blood from breast cancer. To establish a diagnostic method for breast cancer metastasis in peripheral blood. Methods: Peripheral blood samples in breast cancer patients (test group, n = 66) and benign tumour in breast patients ( control group, n = 37) were taken. Then, the nucleated cells were separated and total RNA extracted, and CK-19 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results: Samples were diagnosed CK-19 mRNA positive when 460 bp band appeared in RT-PCR end-product. The positive rate of CK-19 mRNA is 36. 36 % (24/66) in test group . None of the benign tumour breast patients expressed CK-19 mRNA. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P