F1000Research
F1000Research
5 years ago

Circulating tumor cells: silent predictors of metastasis [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

LanLan Zhou, Wafik S. El-Deiry, David T. Dicker, R. Katherine Alpaugh, Elizabeth Matthew
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were added to the arsenal of clinical testing in 2004 for three cancer types: metastatic breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. CTCs were found to be an independent prognostic indicator of survival for these three diseases. Multiple enrichment/isolation strategies have been developed and numerous assay applications have been performed using both single and pooled captured/enriched CTCs. We have reviewed the isolation techniques and touched on many analyses. The true utility of a CTC is that it acts as a “silent” predictor of metastatic disease. The mere presence of a single CTC is an indication that disease has spread from the primary site. Comments and suggestions have been set forth for CTCs and cell-free DNA to be used as a screening panel for the early detection of disease recurrence and metastatic spread, providing the opportunity for early intervention with curative intent to treat metastatic disease.

Publisher URL: https://f1000research.com/articles/6-1445/v1

DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11313.1

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