Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Establishment of a Clinic-based Biorepository
Published on: May 29, 2017
Transmission of Genetic Material and Malignant Cells of Cutaneous Origin via Surgical Sutures
Ariel Berl1, Ofir Shir-Az1, Shelly Tartakover-Matalon2
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel, Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background:
Seeding of skin cancer cells following diagnostic or therapeutic surgical procedures can occur and might cause local recurrences. As current preferred therapy for skin malignancy is surgical excision, seeding of tumour cells by manipulating malignant tissue or suturing can be another factor leading to recurrences.
Objective:
To evaluate whether genetic material and malignant cells adhere to standard suture materials.
Methods:
This prospective study included patients who underwent excision of skin lesions. Monofilament and braided sutures were examined. Sutures were passed through the observed tumour or healthy skin margins and were examined for DNA material and cells by cytological analysis, cell culture and characterization, and DNA analysis.
Results:
Twenty-two patients and 148 sutures were included. DNA quantification showed DNA material on all sutures, with no significant difference between braided and monofilament sutures. Cytological analysis showed that all slides prepared from cell blocks contained normal squamous and atypical cells. Cell culture and characterization showed viable cells adhering to the sutures under direct light microscopy. Cell cultures showed rapid proliferation of epithelial cells from squamous cell carcinoma specimens.
Conclusion:
Suture materials carry DNA material and cells, including malignant cells of cutaneous origin and may seed them at distant sites.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Cancer
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...

