Comparison of four tumor markers at the RNA and protein level for the detection of micrometastases and disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes of patients with cervical carcinoma [Elektronische Ressource] / Alba Fishta. Gutachter: Matthias Dürst ; Achim Schneider ; Alexander Berndt

Comparison of four tumor markers at the RNA and protein level for the detection of micrometastases and disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes of patients with cervical carcinoma Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor medicinae (Dr. med.) vorgelegt dem Rat der Medizinischen Fakultät der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena von Alba Fishta geboren am 23.07.1975 in Durres, Albanien Gutachter 1. Prof. Dr. Matthias Dürst, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena 2. Prof. Dr. Achim Schneider, MPH, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin 3. Prof. Dr. Alexander Berndt, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Tag der öffentlichen Verteidigung: 05. April 2011 Abstract Lymph node status is the key prognostic factor for disease recurrence and patient mortality among cervical cancer patients. Patients with positive lymph nodes (pN1) have a high risk for recurrence. However, 15% of treated patients suffer recurrent disease although their lymph nodes have no evident metastases or micrometastases (pN0). The presence of occult tumor cells or tumor cell clusters smaller than micrometastases (<0.2mm) in lymph nodes could be the reason for poor prognosis of these patients.