Circulating cancer stem cell markers in breast carcinomas: a systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Breast cancer is a prevalent global cancer in women.
• The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis posits that a subpopulation of cells drives cancer growth.
• Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) share CSC-like properties and markers, suggesting their potential as diagnostic indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing studies and identify specific circulating CSC markers in breast cancer patients.
• To consolidate evidence on molecular markers associated with circulating CSCs in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar) up to October 31, 2016.
• Inclusion of observational studies evaluating circulating breast CSC markers, with no language restrictions.
• Quality assessment using established tools (Hoy et al. tool, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) and assessment of publication bias (funnel plots, Egger's test).

Main Results:

• The review synthesizes data on various molecular markers expressed by circulating CSCs in breast cancer.
• Identified markers provide insights into the characteristics and potential role of CSCs in breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Identifying circulating CSC markers enables non-invasive monitoring of breast cancer patients.
• Early detection of circulating CSCs can aid in identifying metastasis at early stages.
• This approach facilitates repeated sampling for better patient management compared to tissue biopsies.