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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Experimental Metastasis Assay
Published on: August 24, 2010
First evidence of AXL expression on circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer patients: A proof-of-concept
Thomas Bardol1,2, Zahra Eslami-S1,2,3, Doryan Masmoudi1,2
1Laboratory of Rare Circulating Human Cells-University Medical Center of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Background:
For several years, the AXL tyrosine kinase receptor, a member of the Tyro3-Axl-Mer (TAM) family, has been considered a new strategic target in oncology. AXL overexpression is common in solid tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. In this context, the detection of a subset of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that express AXL (AXL+ CTCs) could be clinically relevant.
Methods:
Immunostaining was performed to assess AXL expression in human breast cancer cell lines. The optimal conditions were established using flow cytometry. Spiking experiments were carried out to optimize the parameters of the CellSearch® system detection test. CTC enumeration and AXL expression were evaluated in patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) before treatment initiation.
Results:
An innovative AXL+ CTC detection assay to be used with the CellSearch® system was developed. In a prospective longitudinal clinical trial, blood samples from 60 patients with untreated mBC were analyzed to detect AXL+ CTCs with this new assay. CTCs were detected in 35/60 patients (58.3%) and AXL+ CTCs were identified in 7 of these 35 patients (11.7% of all patients).
Conclusion:
This newly established AXL+ CTC assay is a promising tool that can be used for liquid biopsy in future clinical trials to stratify and monitor patients with cancer receiving anti-AXL therapies.
Insights
A new assay detects AXL-positive circulating tumor cells (AXL+ CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer patients. This method could help stratify patients for targeted therapies in future clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- The AXL tyrosine kinase receptor, part of the TAM family, is a key target in oncology due to its overexpression in solid tumors and association with poor prognosis.
- AXL expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) presents potential clinical relevance for cancer management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an assay for detecting AXL-positive circulating tumor cells (AXL+ CTCs) using the CellSearch® system.
- To evaluate the clinical utility of AXL+ CTC detection in patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).
Main Methods:
- Immunostaining and flow cytometry were used to optimize AXL detection in breast cancer cell lines.
- The CellSearch® system was adapted for CTC enumeration and AXL expression analysis.
- Blood samples from 60 untreated mBC patients were analyzed using the developed assay.
Main Results:
- An innovative AXL+ CTC detection assay was successfully developed for the CellSearch® system.
- CTCs were detected in 58.3% (35/60) of patients with mBC.
- AXL+ CTCs were identified in 11.7% (7/35) of patients with detectable CTCs.
Conclusions:
- The developed AXL+ CTC assay shows promise as a tool for liquid biopsy in cancer patients.
- This assay can potentially stratify and monitor patients undergoing anti-AXL therapies in clinical trials.
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