Objective: To study the relation between cancer cells in portal vein blood and liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.
Methods: The presence of CK20 mRNA was investigated by non-isotope RT-PCR in 54 cases.
Results: The positive rate of CK2O mRNA in portal vein blood was 75.9%. The positive cases were significantly correlated with Dukes stage and live metastasis. There was a higher probability of liver metastasis in positive cases after operation.
Conclusions: The detection of CK20 in portal vein blood may improve the accuracy of clinical staging and diagnose liver micrometastasis of colorectal carcinoma.