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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell CTC Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications
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Adaptation of Semiautomated Circulating Tumor Cell CTC Assays for Clinical and Preclinical Research Applications

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Circulating Tumor Cells in Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

A D Hartkopf1, M Banys1,2, N Krawczyk1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen.

Geburtshilfe Und Frauenheilkunde
|April 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow and circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood are key prognostic indicators for breast cancer patients. Detecting CTC in blood offers a less invasive method for prognostication and monitoring treatment effectiveness.

Keywords:
biomarkersbreast cancercirculating tumor celldisseminated tumor cellprognosis

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Disseminated tumor cells (DTC) are detected in bone marrow (BM) of 30-40% of primary breast cancer patients.
  • Positive BM status and DTC persistence post-therapy are significant prognostic factors.
  • Bone marrow aspiration is invasive; circulating tumor cells (CTC) in peripheral blood are an alternative detection focus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent research on circulating tumor cells (CTC) in breast cancer.
  • To explore the prognostic relevance and potential of CTC as biomarkers.
  • To discuss future perspectives for CTC in prognostication and targeted therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on DTC and CTC detection in breast cancer.
  • Analysis of prognostic significance of DTC and CTC.
  • Discussion of emerging detection methods and molecular characterization of CTC.

Main Results:

  • Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are found in 10-80% of breast cancer patients, with variability linked to disease stage and detection methods.
  • Emerging data indicate CTC hold prognostic relevance for both primary and metastatic breast cancer.
  • CTC assessment in blood shows potential as a biomarker for prognostication and therapy monitoring.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating tumor cells (CTC) represent a promising, less invasive biomarker for breast cancer prognostication and treatment monitoring.
  • Molecular characterization of CTC can guide targeted therapies for minimal residual and metastatic disease.
  • Further research and standardized detection methods are crucial for clinical implementation of CTC assessment.