Technical Challenges for CTC Implementation in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women worldwide. Tissue biopsy, currently gold standard to obtain tumor molecular information, invasive and might be affected by heterogeneity rendering it incapable portray complete dynamic picture absence of specific genetic changes during evolution disease. In contrast, liquid biopsy can provide unique opportunities for real-time monitoring disease progression, treatment response studying combining information DNA that tumors spread blood (circulating DNA) with CTCs analysis. this review, we analyze technical biological challenges isolation characterization circulating cells from breast patients. Circulating cell (CTC) enumeration value included numerous clinical studies due prognostic’s role these cells. Despite this, there are so many questions pending answer. How manage lymphocytes background, how distinguish subtypes or work frozen samples, some issues will discuss review. Based on our experience, try address other limitations should solved optimize standardization protocols, sample extraction procedures, circulating-tumor material (CTCs vs. ctDNA) very diverse methodologies employed, aiming consolidate use clinic. Furthermore, think new approaches focusing body fluids such as cerebrospinal ascitic fluid necessary increase practice clinic well study promising CTC clusters their prognostic metastatic cancer.