Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect cancer cells at the molecular level. Using PCR, which could be sensitive enough to detect one melanoma cell among a million normal cells, they are looking in lymph nodes for the presence of genes that are typically expressed in melanoma.

References

1. Cao, Q. Wang, S., Liu, X. Lin, L., Zhao, J. Sentinel lymph node micrometastasis detection using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for cytokeratin 19 in breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I. Vol 25, No. 18S (June 20 Supplement), 2007: 11074

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