Table 2.

RT-PCR Studies

Study	Patients (stage)	Marker	Mean nodes examined	% pN0 (mol+) patients	Follow-up	Outcome	Recurrence rate	Clinical relevance
Hayashi et al20	71 (1, 2)	MASA; K-ras, p53	14.5*	52.1%*	60 months	Recurrence within 5 years: mol−: 0%; mol+: 73%*	41%*	P < 0.0001
Rosenberg et al21	85 (1, 2)	CK-20	2 (underwent RT-PCR)	52%	86 months (median)	OS: mol−: 94.7%; mol+: 77.9%	21%	P < 0.009
Noura et al17	64 (2)	CEA	5.5	29.7%	79.5 months (mean)	DFS: mol−: 88.4%; mol+: 61.4%	19%*	P = 0.027
Liefers et al19	26 (2)	CEA	7.4*	54%	60 months	DSS: mol−: 91%; mol+: 50%	31%*	P = 0.03
Merrie et al18	141 (1, 2)	CK-20	15.3*	34%	42 months (median)	OS: mol−: ∼85%; mol+: ∼70%	NA	P < 0.135
						OS and # nodes: 0 mol+: ∼85%; 1 to 3 mol+: ∼75%; 4 mol+: ∼45%	NA	P < 0.0052
Bustin et al22	32 (1, 2)	GCC; CK20; CEA	7.2†	NA	47.3* months (median)	No association between mRNA expression levels and recurrence in pN0(mol+) patients	NA	NS (no P value)

NA, not available; NS, not significant. 

^*Figures are calculated or estimated based on data and tables found in the text. 

^†Bustin and colleagues22 included 10 stage 3 patients in their study. This figure is calculated including all LNs from stage 1 to 3 patients.