Circulating tumor cells: liquid biopsy of cancer.
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND The detection and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are one of the most active areas of translational cancer research, with >400 clinical studies having included CTCs as a biomarker. The aims of research on CTCs include (a) estimation of the risk for metastatic relapse or metastatic progression (prognostic information), (b) stratification and real-time monitoring of therapies, (c) identification of therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms, and (d) understanding metastasis development in cancer patients. CONTENT This review focuses on the technologies used for the enrichment and detection of CTCs. We outline and discuss the current technologies that are based on exploiting the physical and biological properties of CTCs. A number of innovative technologies to improve methods for CTC detection have recently been developed, including CTC microchips, filtration devices, quantitative reverse-transcription PCR assays, and automated microscopy systems. Molecular-characterization studies have indicated, however, that CTCs are very heterogeneous, a finding that underscores the need for multiplex approaches to capture all of the relevant CTC subsets. We therefore emphasize the current challenges of increasing the yield and detection of CTCs that have undergone an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Increasing assay analytical sensitivity may lead, however, to a decrease in analytical specificity (e.g., through the detection of circulating normal epithelial cells). SUMMARY A considerable number of promising CTC-detection techniques have been developed in recent years. The analytical specificity and clinical utility of these methods must be demonstrated in large prospective multicenter studies to reach the high level of evidence required for their introduction into clinical practice.
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متن کاملCirculating Tumor DNA and Circulating Tumor Cells for Cancer Diagnosis and Management (Liquid Biopsy)
Liquid biopsy is a when a blood sample (rather than a piece of tissue) is used to test for cancer cells or small genetic cancer pieces mixing in the blood. The blood sample is taken from the arm and is tested for cells or genetic pieces that cancers shed into the bloodstream. Identifying tumor cell material in the blood might help to diagnose cancer, track changes in a cancer over time or help ...
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عنوان ژورنال:
- Clinical chemistry
دوره 59 1 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2013