ecancermedicalscience

Review

Circulating tumour cells in breast cancer

19 Sep 2013
Natalia Krawczyk, Malgorzata Banys, Andreas Hartkopf, Carsten Hagenbeck, Carola Melcher, Tanja Fehm

Evaluation of isolated tumour cells in bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood has become a major focus of translational cancer research. The presence of disseminated tumour cells in BM is a common phenomenon observed in 30–40% of primary breast cancer patients and independently predicts reduced clinical outcome. The detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood might become a desired alternative to the invasive and painful BM biopsy. Recent clinical trials confirmed the feasibility of CTC detection as a robust and reproducible parameter for prognostication in both adjuvant and metastatic setting. The characterisation of CTCs might become an important biomarker for therapy monitoring and help to identify specific targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

Related Articles

Manas Dubey, Partha Sarathi Roy, Ankur Bhattacharyya, Kakoli Medhi, Rajdeep Bose, Munlima Hazarika, Pompi Daimari Buragohain, Zaveri Mohinta, Anupam Sarma
Joseph Daniels, Letlhogonolo Ernity Mosadi, Andrew Yaw Nyantakyi, Edwina Ayaaba Ayabilah, Judith Naa Odey Tackie, Kofi Adesi Kyei
João Felipe Lima Feldmann, João Henrique Lima Feldmann, Cassio Murilo Hidalgo-Filho, Amanda Acioli de Almeida Robatto, Breno Jeha Araújo, Publio Cesar Cavalcante Viana, Gilberto de Castro Junior
Naciri Meryem, Aouzah Fatima Ezzahra, El Ghanmi Adil, Ghazi Bouchra Fichtali Karima Sqalli Houssaini Mohammed, Kouhen Fadila
Jessica O Esangbedo, Rachael O Oduyemi, Damilare Aduroja, Yetunde O Tola, Olajumoke Dele-Alonge, Emmanuel O Adesuyi, Michael O Ajiboye, Oluwadamilare Akingbade