[Micrometastasis of colorectal carcinoma in bone marrow with immunohistochemical staining]

From April 1994 to April 1996, immunohistochemical technique was used to detect micrometastasis of patients with colorectal carcinoma with monoclonal antibody to epithelial membrane antigen (anti EMA). Positive cells were found in their bone marrow in 23 of 57 cases, including 14 in 34 patients with colonic carcinoma (positive rate 41%) and 9 in 23 patients with rectal carcinoma (positive rate 39.1%). The positive rate was 40.4%. Statistical analysis showed that the modified Dukes stage of the cancer, the pathological type of carcinoma and the age of the patients were correlated with the positive rate, but the primary locations of the cancer were not. This method can be used to identify the extent of the cancer and direct clinical comprehensive treatment for colorectal carcinoma.