The measurement and therapeutic implications of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer

Abstract

Circulating tumours cells (CTCs) represent an important biologic link in the spread of breast cancer from primary to metastatic disease. CTCs are strong predictors of prognosis in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Research to date has focused on development of methods with adequate sensitivity and specificity to reproducibly identify these rare events. Future research will focus on the biologic phenotypes of these cells with goals to understand mechanisms of metastasis, to identify novel therapeutic targets, and to monitor response to therapy.

A concept for the standardized detection of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow from patients with primary breast cancer and its clinical implementation

“…12,14,15,17,23,30 The International Society for Cellular Therapy Committee and other research groups have published proposals for cytomorphologic criteria (as summarized in Table 2) applicable for the assessment and interpretation of positive immunostaining results. 8,27,35 In a currently published review by Smerage and Hayes, 36 it reportedly was assumed in earlier studies that the false-positive rate for DTC detection was as high as 22% to 61%. However, this rate can be reduced by changes in methodology, as suggested in this report: e.g., the use of appropriate staining controls, use of more specific antibodies, identification of DTCs based on cytomorphologic criteria/phenotypic features, and validation by 2 independent observers.…”

Quantitative PCR marker genes for endometrial adenocarcinoma

“…These single tumor cells are termed circulating tumor cells (CTCs) (10). In cases where CTCs infiltrate the bone marrow, they are able to persist for years without doing any harm and become disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The occurrence of CTCs and DTCs is often an indicator of an unfavorable prognosis for patients (10,17), and therefore are included in international tumor staging systems (18,19).…”

Carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 20 in peritoneal cells of cancer patients: are we aware of what we are detecting by mRNA examination?

“…The authors have not applied the idea of micrometastases detection in cancer cell-enriched populations, one of many detection methods focused to enhance specificity and the only one which produced an assay that received FDA clearance (Smerage and Hayes, 2006). Published online 15 January 2008…”