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Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications
Published on: February 28, 2014
Detection of disseminated tumor cells in patients with cervical cancer
Cornelia Scheungraber1, Bernhard Müller, Christhardt Köhler
1Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Abteilung Frauenheilkunde, Germany.
Purpose:
Detection of disseminated tumor cells in a cohort of patients presenting the entire spectrum of invasive cervical cancer.
Methods:
Disseminated tumor cells were detected in blood samples taken at different times during surgery or in bone marrow aspirates by a HPV type-specific nested PCR enzyme immunoassay (n-PCR-EIA). A group of 24 patients with HPV-positive cervical cancers representing early and late stages were evaluated, and 15 patients with breast cancer and without HPV-related genital disease served as controls.
Results:
Disseminated tumor cells were detected in blood samples and/or bone marrow aspirates of 6 of 24 patients. A significant association was found between detectable disseminated tumor cells and recurrent disease ( P=0.013) and between disseminated tumor cells and survival of the patients ( P=0.0054). There was also a clear association between the presence of disseminated tumor cells and tumor size and/or positive lymph node status which, however, was not statistically significant. There was no evidence of increased shedding of tumor cells during surgery.
Conclusion:
Detection of disseminated tumor cells in blood or bone marrow may prove to be of prognostic value, particularly for early-stage cervical cancers.
