Detailed Instructions: Given a passage, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
Problem:We evaluated whether detecting prostate cancer cells by the nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in lymph nodes has predictive value for serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) recurrence in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.', 'We assessed the presence of prostate cancer cells by RT-PCR for prostate specific membrane antigen and PSA assay in lymph nodes dissected from 38 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. The results of nested RT-PCR assay were compared with biochemical recurrence.', 'Nested RT-PCR was positive in the lymph nodes of 2 of 18 patients (11%) with stage pT2a and 5 of 20 (25%) with stage pT2b disease. All 7 patients had biochemical recurrence. We noted a significant difference in the Kaplan-Meier recurrence-free actuarial probability curve in those with positive and negative nested RT-PCR results for prostate specific membrane antigen, PSA and prostate specific membrane antigen-PSA in the lymph nodes (p = 3.02x10(-7), 2.23x10(-7) and 3.02x10(-7), respectively). Multivariate analysis of serum PSA, Gleason score and preoperative RT-PCR assay in peripheral blood showed that nested RT-PCR for prostate specific membrane antigen, PSA and prostate specific membrane antigen-PSA in the lymph nodes were independent predictors of recurrence (p = 0.0089, 0.0075 and 0.0089, respectively).
Solution:
Is detection of micrometastatic prostate cancer cells in the lymph nodes by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction predictive of biochemical recurrence in pathological stage T2 prostate cancer?