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Circulating Tumor Cell Lines: an Innovative Tool for Fundamental and Translational Research
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Circulating Tumor Cells as an Auxiliary Diagnostic Tool in Surgery
Katarina Kolostova1, Adam Rzechonek2, Jan Schützner3
1Department of Laboratory Genetics, Kralovske Vinohrady University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
In Vivo (Athens, Greece)
|November 6, 2017
Summary
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detected in peripheral blood (PB) can help diagnose lung and pancreatic cancer when biopsies are not possible. This liquid biopsy approach aids in identifying malignant disease efficiently.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood (PB) correlate with reduced patient survival.
- CTC diagnostics are evolving from prognostic tools to predictors of therapy response.
- This study addresses the need for non-invasive cancer detection when biopsies are unobtainable.
Observation:
- A size-based method was employed to enrich viable CTCs from patient blood samples.
- Cytomorphological examination and gene expression analysis confirmed the presence and epithelial origin of CTCs.
- Successful enrichment and in vitro culturing of CTCs were achieved in both cases.
Findings:
- CTCs were successfully isolated and characterized from patients with suspected lung and pancreatic cancer.
- Quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed the epithelial nature of the captured cells.
- The study demonstrated the feasibility of using CTCs for diagnosing malignancy without tissue biopsy.
Implications:
- Liquid biopsy via CTC detection offers a time-efficient method for cancer diagnosis.
- Molecular characterization of CTCs can complement traditional diagnostic procedures.
- This approach holds potential for guiding therapeutic decisions and monitoring treatment efficacy.
