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Micromanipulation of Circulating Tumor Cells for Downstream Molecular Analysis and Metastatic Potential Assessment
Published on: May 14, 2019
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Size-based detection of sarcoma circulating tumor cells and cell clusters
Masanori Hayashi1, Peixuan Zhu2, Gregory McCarty1
1Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Oncotarget
|November 8, 2017
Summary
Detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in sarcoma patients shows promise for monitoring treatment response and predicting metastatic relapse. This novel approach uses the CellSieve™ system for improved detection and analysis of these vital cancer cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Translational Research
Background:
- Metastatic disease significantly impacts sarcoma patient survival.
- Hematogenous spread is the primary route of sarcoma metastasis.
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer a potential biomarker for therapeutic response and relapse risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of detecting and quantifying CTCs in high-grade sarcoma.
- To evaluate the CellSieve™ microfiltration system for sarcoma CTC isolation and analysis.
- To correlate CTC presence with disease burden, treatment response, and metastatic relapse.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel animal model and blood samples from high-grade sarcoma patients.
- Employed the CellSieve™ size-based low pressure microfiltration system for CTC detection.
- Characterized sarcoma CTCs via antibody staining, nuclear morphology, and molecular analyses (e.g., EWS-FLI1 translocation, p53 mutation, single-cell RNA sequencing).
Main Results:
- CTC presence in mouse models correlated with disease burden and occult metastases.
- CTCs were detected at diagnosis in human patients and decreased with successful treatment.
- CTCs were identified in patients with no radiographic evidence of disease preceding overt metastasis.
Conclusions:
- The CellSieve™ system effectively isolates and enables study of sarcoma CTCs in preclinical and clinical settings.
- CTC detection holds potential for monitoring treatment efficacy in sarcoma patients.
- Quantification of CTCs may predict the risk of metastatic relapse in sarcoma.
