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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications
Published on: February 28, 2014
Low number of detectable circulating tumor cells in non-metastatic colon cancer
Morten Thorsteinsson1, György Söletormos, Per Jess
1Department of Surgery, Roskilde Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Koegevej 7-13, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. moth@regionsjaelland.dk
Background:
The aim of the present study was to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-metastatic colon cancer and to evaluate whether there is a diurnal variation in the CTC counts. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the correlation between CTCs and TNM stage, other paraclinical variables and prognosis.
Patients And Methods:
Blood samples were collected from 20 consecutive patients with colon cancer TNM stage I-III at four different perioperative time points. Detection of CTCs was performed using the immunological assay CellSearch®.
Results:
CTCs were detected in 1 out of 60 preoperative blood samples, resulting in a detection rate of 1 in 20 patients (5%; 95% confidence interval = 0.1-25%). None of the postoperative blood samples had CTC levels above the cut-off value (≥ 2 CTCs/7.5 ml blood).
Conclusion:
The presence of CTCs in non-metastatic colon cancer is rare and barely detectable with the only commercially available assay for detection of CTCs, the CellSearch System.
