Some colon cancer patients may soon be spared unnecessary chemotherapy thanks to a new study out of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Researchers say the answer is in the lymph nodes. The current standard to identify the stage of colon cancer is to remove the lymph nodes and examine them for signs of cancer, indicating the cancer has spread. Doctors know patients who have cancer in their lymph nodes benefit from surgery and chemotherapy while those patients whose lymph nodes are clean often can get by with surgery alone. Unfortunately, one-third of patients who are node negative have their cancer return, and treating everyone for preventive measures would mean 70 percent are being treated unnecessarily. Anton J. Bilchik, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues, reasoned that a more accurate evaluation of lymph nodes could mean better and more appropriate treatment. They used a procedure known as lymphatic mapping, where a dye is injected near the tumor. The tumor and the first lymph node, known as the sentinel node, were removed along with other nodes in the area to search for signs of cancer. The theory with this is that the sentinel node is the first node to receive lymphatic drainage, and therefore, is the most likely node to be affected by spreading cancer. They would expect that if the cancer were in the sentinel node, it has spread to other lymph nodes as well, and adjuvant treatment would be beneficial. Researchers found this approach was 88.2 percent sensitive, meaning in 88 percent of the cases where cancer had spread to the lymph nodes, it showed up in the sentinel node. Only six of 81 cases had the cancer appear in the sentinel node but not in the lymph nodes. These findings, say researchers, "suggest that lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node techniques are feasible and accurate in colon cancer." They hope this could lead to better identification of patients who can benefit from chemotherapy and spare those who do not need it. This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/ SOURCE: Archives of Surgery, 2006;141:527-534 June 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.