Enumeration and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells as an innovative tool for companion diagnostics in breast cancer.

Enumeration and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells as an innovative tool for companion diagnostics in breast cancer. Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2020 Jun 16;: Authors: Harigopal M, Kowalski D, Vosoughi A Abstract INTRODUCTIO: n: Circulating tumor cells (CTC) and more recently, CTC clusters are implicated as a fundamental mechanism by which tumor cells break away from the primary site and travel to distant sites. Enumeration of CTC and CTC clusters represents a new approach to prognosis, prediction, and response to therapy in patients with early and metastatic breast cancer. Several recent studies have shown the predictive importance of monitoring CTCs levels in progression-free and overall survival in breast cancer patients. This review will focus on CTC enumeration and characterization in breast cancers. AREAS COVERED: We will provide a historical perspective and clinical background of CTC detection in peripheral blood. The current methodologies for studying CTCs and newer technologies for CTC detection will be reviewed together with the current state of the art of CTCs as a biomarker in risk stratification and prognostication in breast cancers. EXPERT OPINION: Currently, there is an FDA approved CTC assessment method for clinical use. While, CTC enumeration, is a marker for prognostication and survival, molecular characterization of CTC, may be more accurate in monitoring response to treatment due to tu...
Source: Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics - Category: Laboratory Medicine Tags: Expert Rev Mol Diagn Source Type: research