Detection of circulating colorectal cancer cells by a custom microfluid system before and after endoscopic metallic stent placement

Abstract

Although the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) should be crucial for future personalized medicine, no efficient and flexible methods have been established. The current study established a polymeric custom-made chip for capturing CTCs with a high efficiency and flexibility. As an example of clinical application, the effects of self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement on the release of cancer cells into the blood of patients with colorectal cancer and bowel obstruction were analyzed. This was assessed as the placement of SEMS may cause mechanical damage and physical force to malignant tissue, increasing the risk of cancer cell release into the bloodstream. The present study examined the number of CTCs using a custom-made chip, before, at 24 h after and at 4 days after SEMS placement in patients with colorectal cancer. The results revealed that, among the 13 patients examined, the number of CTCs was increased in three cases at 24 h after SEMS placement. However, this increase was temporary. The number of CTCs also decreased at 4 days after stent placement in most cases. The CTC chip of the current study detected the number of CD133-positive cancer stem-like cells, which did not change, even in the patient whose total number of CTCs temporarily increased. The results indicated that this custom-made microfluid system can efficiently and flexibly detect CTCs, demonstrating its potential for obtaining information during the management of patients with cancer.

Comparison of safety between self-expanding metal stents as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery based on pathology: a meta-analysis

“…Since the first reported use of SEMS in 1991, SEMS as a bridge of surgery has been widely developed because of its good short-term results, but its long-term oncology results are worrying [ 4 ]. Several studies [ 31 – 34 ] have found that SEMS implantation can cause tumor cells to release into the circulatory system, but Ishibashi [ 31 ] believes that these tumor cells are not cancer stem-like cells, which can be quickly removed by the body, so they will not cause distant metastasis of the tumor. Some scholars [ 5 – 6 ] also observed many adverse histopathological changes after SEMS implantation, including tumor ulceration, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis.…”

Comparison of safety between self-expanding metal stents as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery based on pathology: a meta-analysis

“…Since the rst reported use of SEMS in 1991, SEMS as a bridge of surgery has been widely developed because of its good short-term results, but its longterm oncology results are worrying (31). Several studies (32)(33)(34)(35) have found that SEMS implantation can cause tumor cells to release into the circulatory system, but Ishibashi (32) believes that these tumor cells are not cancer stem-like cells, which can be quickly removed by the body, so they will not cause distant metastasis of the tumor.…”

Comparison of safety between self-expanding metal stents as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery based on pathology: a meta-analysis

“…Since the rst reported use of SEMS in 1991, SEMS as a bridge of surgery has been widely developed because of its good short-term results, but its long-term oncology results are worrying (4). Several studies (31)(32)(33)(34) have found that SEMS implantation can cause tumor cells to release into the circulatory system, but Ishibashi(31) believes that these tumor cells are not cancer stem-like cells, which can be quickly removed by the body, so they will not cause distant metastasis of the tumor. Some scholars(5-6) also observed many adverse histopathological changes after SEMS implantation, including tumor ulceration, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis.…”