Marker selection

During the development of the OSNA method, Sysmex selected and evaluated many candidate mRNA marker genes, which are specific to breast cancer tissue in lymph nodes.

Seven markers were selected for further evaluation in a number of individual lymph nodes.

Finally CK19 mRNA was identified as the best marker for the OSNA Assay, showing the best sensitivity as well as high expression levels in metastatic lymph nodes and low levels in non-metastatic lymph nodes thereby offering the capability to accurately discriminate metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes.