Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Tumor cells are dislodged into the pulmonary vein during lobectomy

  • Xiaosai Yao
  • , Christina Williamson
  • , Viktor A. Adalsteinsson
  • , Richard S. D'Agostino
  • , Torin Fitton
  • , Gregory G. Smaroff
  • , Robert T. William
  • , K. Dane Wittrup
  • , J. Christopher Love

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Intraoperative tumor shedding may facilitate tumor dissemination. In earlier studies, shed tumor cells were defined primarily by cytomorphological examination, and normal epithelial cells could not always be distinguished from tumor cells. We sought to accurately identify tumor cells using single-cell sequencing and determine whether these cells were mobilized into the circulation during pulmonary lobectomy.

Results The mean number of EpCAM+ cells in video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) lobectomy (no wedge) specimens (n = 16) was 165 (median, 115; range, 0-509) but sampling cells from 3 patients indicated that only 0% to 38% of the EpCAM+ cells were tumor cells. The mean number of EpCAM+ cells in VATS lobectomy (wedge) specimens (n = 12) was 1128 (median, 197; range, 47-9406) and all of the EpCAM+ cells were normal epithelial cells in 2 patients sampled. The mean number of EpCAM+ cells in thoracotomy specimens (n = 14) was 238 (median, 22; range, 9-2920) and 0% to 50% of total EpCAM+ cells were tumor cells based on 4 patients sampled.

Conclusions Surgery mobilizes tumor cells into the pulmonary vein, along with many normal epithelial cells. EpCAM alone cannot differentiate between normal and tumor cells. On the other hand, single-cell genetic approaches with patient-matched normal and tumor tissues can accurately quantify the number of shed tumor cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3224-3231.e5
JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume148
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tumor cells are dislodged into the pulmonary vein during lobectomy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this