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Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge...
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Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2019) | Viewed by 128954

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Catherine Alix-Panabieres

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University Medical Center of Montpellier, IURC, Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), 641 avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34093 Montpellier, France
Interests: circulating tumor cells (CTCs); liquid biopsy; biomarkers, metastasis-competent CTCs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as real-time liquid biopsy can be used to obtain new insights into metastasis biology, and as companion diagnostics to improve the stratification of therapies and to obtain insights into the therapy-induced selection of cancer cells. In this book, we will cover all the different facets of CTCs in order to assemble a huge corpus of knowledge on cancer dissemination: technologies for their enrichment, detection, and characterization; their analysis at the single-cell level; their journey as CTC microemboli; their clinical relevance; their biology with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT); their stem-cell properties; their potential to initiate metastasis at distant sites; their ex vivo expansion; and their escape from the immune system.

Dr. Catherine Alix-Panabieres
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
  • biomarker
  • liquid biopsy
  • solid cancers
  • clinical utility
  • prognostic value
  • epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
  • cancer stem cells
  • metastasis-competent CTCs
  • metastatic cascade
  • single-cell analysis
  • ex vivo expansion of CTCs
  • immunomodulation
  • enrichment and detection technologies
  • CTC microemboli

Published Papers (25 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 568 KiB  
Editorial
“Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for a Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination”
by Catherine Alix-Panabières
Cells 2020, 9(3), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9030661 - 09 Mar 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2743
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as real-time liquid biopsy [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 3006 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Dynamic Evaluation of Proteins Related to Resistance to Neoadjuvant Treatment with Chemoradiotherapy in Circulating Tumor Cells of Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
by Virgílio Souza e Silva, Emne Ali Abdallah, Bianca de Cássia Troncarelli Flores, Alexcia Camila Braun, Daniela de Jesus Ferreira Costa, Anna Paula Carreta Ruano, Vanessa Alves Gasparini, Maria Letícia Gobo Silva, Gustavo Gomes Mendes, Laura Carolina Lopez Claro, Vinicius Fernando Calsavara, Samuel Aguiar Junior, Celso Abdon Lopes de Mello and Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen
Cells 2021, 10(6), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061539 - 18 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3279
Abstract
The heterogeneity of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) is still a challenge in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The evaluation of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and RAD23 homolog B (RAD23B) expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provides complementary clinical information. CTCs were prospectively evaluated [...] Read more.
The heterogeneity of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) is still a challenge in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The evaluation of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and RAD23 homolog B (RAD23B) expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provides complementary clinical information. CTCs were prospectively evaluated in 166 blood samples (63 patients) with LARC undergoing NCRT. The primary objective was to verify if the absence of RAD23B/TYMS in CTCs would correlate with pathological complete response (pCR). Secondary objectives were to correlate CTC kinetics before (C1)/after NCRT (C2), in addition to the expression of transforming growth factor-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) with survival rates. CTCs were isolated by ISET and evaluated by immunocytochemistry (protein expression). At C1, RAD23B was detected in 54.1% of patients with no pCR and its absence in 91.7% of patients with pCR (p = 0.014); TYMS− was observed in 90% of patients with pCR and TYMS+ in 51.7% without pCR (p = 0.057). Patients with CTC2 > CTC1 had worse disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.00025) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0036) compared with those with CTC2 ≤ CTC1. TGF-βRI expression in any time correlated with worse DFS (p = 0.059). To conclude, RAD23B/TYMS and CTC kinetics may facilitate the personalized treatment of LARC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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25 pages, 3951 KiB  
Article
Microfluidic Device for On-Chip Immunophenotyping and Cytogenetic Analysis of Rare Biological Cells
by Kumuditha M. Weerakoon-Ratnayake, Swarnagowri Vaidyanathan, Nicholas Larkey, Kavya Dathathreya, Mengjia Hu, Jilsha Jose, Shalee Mog, Keith August, Andrew K. Godwin, Mateusz L. Hupert, Malgorzata A. Witek and Steven A. Soper
Cells 2020, 9(2), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9020519 - 24 Feb 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4976
Abstract
The role of circulating plasma cells (CPCs) and circulating leukemic cells (CLCs) as biomarkers for several blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma and leukemia, respectively, have recently been reported. These markers can be attractive due to the minimally invasive nature of their acquisition [...] Read more.
The role of circulating plasma cells (CPCs) and circulating leukemic cells (CLCs) as biomarkers for several blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma and leukemia, respectively, have recently been reported. These markers can be attractive due to the minimally invasive nature of their acquisition through a blood draw (i.e., liquid biopsy), negating the need for painful bone marrow biopsies. CPCs or CLCs can be used for cellular/molecular analyses as well, such as immunophenotyping or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). FISH, which is typically carried out on slides involving complex workflows, becomes problematic when operating on CLCs or CPCs due to their relatively modest numbers. Here, we present a microfluidic device for characterizing CPCs and CLCs using immunofluorescence or FISH that have been enriched from peripheral blood using a different microfluidic device. The microfluidic possessed an array of cross-channels (2–4 µm in depth and width) that interconnected a series of input and output fluidic channels. Placing a cover plate over the device formed microtraps, the size of which was defined by the width and depth of the cross-channels. This microfluidic chip allowed for automation of immunofluorescence and FISH, requiring the use of small volumes of reagents, such as antibodies and probes, as compared to slide-based immunophenotyping and FISH. In addition, the device could secure FISH results in <4 h compared to 2–3 days for conventional FISH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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13 pages, 1261 KiB  
Article
Association between Microsatellite Instability Status and Peri-Operative Release of Circulating Tumour Cells in Colorectal Cancer
by James W. T. Toh, Stephanie H. Lim, Scott MacKenzie, Paul de Souza, Les Bokey, Pierre Chapuis and Kevin J. Spring
Cells 2020, 9(2), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9020425 - 12 Feb 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2650
Abstract
Microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is a marker of immunogenicity and is associated with an increased abundance of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In this subgroup of colorectal cancer, it is unknown if these characteristics translate into a measurable difference in circulating [...] Read more.
Microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is a marker of immunogenicity and is associated with an increased abundance of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). In this subgroup of colorectal cancer, it is unknown if these characteristics translate into a measurable difference in circulating tumour cell (CTC) release into peripheral circulation. This is the first study to compare MSI status with the prevalence of circulating CTCs in the peri-operative colorectal surgery setting. For this purpose, 20 patients who underwent CRC surgery with curative intent were enrolled in the study, and peripheral venous blood was collected at pre- (t1), intra- (t2), immediately post-operative (t3), and 14–16 h post-operative (t4) time points. Of these, one patient was excluded due to insufficient blood sample. CTCs were isolated from 19 patients using the IsofluxTM system, and the data were analysed using the STATA statistical package. CTC number was presented as the mean values, and comparisons were made using the Student t-test. There was a trend toward increased CTC presence in the MSI-high (H) CRC group, but this was not statistically significant. In addition, a Poisson regression was performed adjusting for stage (I-IV). This demonstrated no significant difference between the two MSI groups for pre-operative time point t1. However, time points t2, t3, and t4 were associated with increased CTC presence for MSI-H CRCs. In conclusion, there was a trend toward increased CTC release pre-, intra-, and post-operatively in MSI-H CRCs, but this was only statistically significant intra-operatively. When adjusting for stage, MSI-H was associated with an increase in CTC numbers intra-operatively and post-operatively, but not pre-operatively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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23 pages, 3908 KiB  
Article
Detection of Androgen Receptor Variant 7 (ARV7) mRNA Levels in EpCAM-Enriched CTC Fractions for Monitoring Response to Androgen Targeting Therapies in Prostate Cancer
by Claudia Hille, Tobias M. Gorges, Sabine Riethdorf, Martine Mazel, Thomas Steuber, Gunhild Von Amsberg, Frank König, Sven Peine, Catherine Alix-Panabières and Klaus Pantel
Cells 2019, 8(9), 1067; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8091067 - 11 Sep 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4616
Abstract
Expression of the androgen receptor splice variant 7 (ARV7) in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been associated with resistance towards novel androgen receptor (AR)-targeting therapies. While a multitude of ARV7 detection approaches have been developed, the simultaneous enumeration of CTCs and assessment [...] Read more.
Expression of the androgen receptor splice variant 7 (ARV7) in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been associated with resistance towards novel androgen receptor (AR)-targeting therapies. While a multitude of ARV7 detection approaches have been developed, the simultaneous enumeration of CTCs and assessment of ARV7 status and the integration of validated technologies for CTC enrichment/detection into their workflow render interpretation of the results more difficult and/or require shipment to centralized labs. Here, we describe the establishment and technical validation of a novel ARV7 detection method integrating the CellSearch® technology, the only FDA-cleared CTC-enrichment method for metastatic prostate cancer available so far. A highly sensitive and specific qPCR-based assay was developed, allowing detection of ARV7 and keratin 19 transcripts from as low as a single ARV7+/K19+ cell, even after 24 h of sample storage. Clinical feasibility was demonstrated on blood samples from 26 prostate cancer patients and assay sensitivity and specificity was corroborated. Our novel approach can now be included into prospective clinical trials aimed to assess the predictive values of CTC/ARV7 measurements in prostate cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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21 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
Capture and Detection of Circulating Glioma Cells Using the Recombinant VAR2CSA Malaria Protein
by Sara R. Bang-Christensen, Rasmus S. Pedersen, Marina A. Pereira, Thomas M. Clausen, Caroline Løppke, Nicolai T. Sand, Theresa D. Ahrens, Amalie M. Jørgensen, Yi Chieh Lim, Louise Goksøyr, Swati Choudhary, Tobias Gustavsson, Robert Dagil, Mads Daugaard, Adam F. Sander, Mathias H. Torp, Max Søgaard, Thor G. Theander, Olga Østrup, Ulrik Lassen, Petra Hamerlik, Ali Salanti and Mette Ø. Agerbækadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Cells 2019, 8(9), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8090998 - 28 Aug 2019
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 6364
Abstract
Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Although extracranial metastases are rarely observed, recent studies have shown the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of glioma patients, confirming that a subset of tumor cells are capable of [...] Read more.
Diffuse gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Although extracranial metastases are rarely observed, recent studies have shown the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of glioma patients, confirming that a subset of tumor cells are capable of entering the circulation. The isolation and characterization of CTCs could provide a non-invasive method for repeated analysis of the mutational and phenotypic state of the tumor during the course of disease. However, the efficient detection of glioma CTCs has proven to be challenging due to the lack of consistently expressed tumor markers and high inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. Thus, for this field to progress, an omnipresent but specific marker of glioma CTCs is required. In this article, we demonstrate how the recombinant malaria VAR2CSA protein (rVAR2) can be used for the capture and detection of glioma cell lines that are spiked into blood through binding to a cancer-specific oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS). When using rVAR2 pull-down from glioma cells, we identified a panel of proteoglycans, known to be essential for glioma progression. Finally, the clinical feasibility of this work is supported by the rVAR2-based isolation and detection of CTCs from glioma patient blood samples, which highlights ofCS as a potential clinical target for CTC isolation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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16 pages, 2227 KiB  
Article
Leukocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Blood with and without EpCAM Enrichment
by Afroditi Nanou, Leonie L. Zeune and Leon W.M.M. Terstappen
Cells 2019, 8(8), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8080937 - 20 Aug 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4848
Abstract
Large tumor-derived Extracellular Vesicles (tdEVs) detected in blood of metastatic prostate, breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancer patients after enrichment for Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) expression and labeling with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), phycoerythrin-conjugated antibodies against Cytokeratins (CK-PE), and allophycocyanin-conjugated antibody against the [...] Read more.
Large tumor-derived Extracellular Vesicles (tdEVs) detected in blood of metastatic prostate, breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancer patients after enrichment for Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) expression and labeling with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), phycoerythrin-conjugated antibodies against Cytokeratins (CK-PE), and allophycocyanin-conjugated antibody against the cluster of differentiation 45 (CD45-APC), are negatively associated with the overall survival of patients. Here, we investigated whether, similarly to tdEVs, leukocyte-derived EVs (ldEVs) could also be detected in EpCAM-enriched blood. Presence of ldEVs and leukocytes in image data sets of EpCAM-enriched samples of 25 healthy individuals and 75 metastatic cancer patients was evaluated using the ACCEPT software. Large ldEVs could indeed be detected, but in contrast to the 20-fold higher frequency of tdEVs as compared to Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), ldEVs were present in a 5-fold lower frequency as compared to leukocytes. To evaluate whether these ldEVs pre-exist in the blood or are formed during the CellSearch procedure, the blood of healthy individuals without EpCAM enrichment was labelled with the nuclear dye Hoechst and fluorescently tagged monoclonal antibodies recognizing the leukocyte-specific CD45, platelet-specific CD61, and red blood cell-specific CD235a. Fluorescence microscopy imaging using a similar setup as the CellSearch was performed and demonstrated the presence of a similar population of ldEVs present at a 3-fold lower frequency as compared to leukocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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12 pages, 1190 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells Enriched by A Microfluidic Platform in Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer
by Eva Obermayr, Christiane Agreiter, Eva Schuster, Hannah Fabikan, Christoph Weinlinger, Katarina Baluchova, Gerhard Hamilton, Maximilian Hochmair and Robert Zeillinger
Cells 2019, 8(8), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8080880 - 13 Aug 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3968
Abstract
At initial diagnosis, most patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) present with metastatic disease with a high number of tumor cells (CTCs) circulating in the blood. We analyzed RNA transcripts specific for neuroendocrine and for epithelial cell lineages, and Notch pathway delta-like 3 [...] Read more.
At initial diagnosis, most patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) present with metastatic disease with a high number of tumor cells (CTCs) circulating in the blood. We analyzed RNA transcripts specific for neuroendocrine and for epithelial cell lineages, and Notch pathway delta-like 3 ligand (DLL3), the actionable target of rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T) in CTC samples. Peripheral blood samples from 48 SCLC patients were processed using the microfluidic Parsortix™ technology to enrich the CTCs. Blood samples from 26 healthy donors processed in the same way served as negative controls. The isolated cells were analyzed for the presence of above-mentioned transcripts using quantitative PCR. In total, 16/51 (31.4%) samples were CTC-positive as determined by the expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (EpCAM), cytokeratin 19 (CK19), chromogranin A (CHGA), and/or synaptophysis (SYP). The epithelial cell lineage-specific EpCAM and/or CK19 gene expression was observed in 11 (21.6%) samples, and positivity was not associated with impaired survival. The neuroendocrine cell lineage-specific CHGA and/or SYP were positive in 13 (25.5%) samples, and positivity was associated with poor overall survival. DLL3 transcripts were observed in four (7.8%) SCLC blood samples and DLL3-positivity was similarly associated with poor overall survival (OS). CTCs in SCLC patients can be assessed using epithelial and neuroendocrine cell lineage markers at the molecular level. Thus, the implementation of liquid biopsy may improve the management of lung cancer patients, in terms of a faster diagnosis, patient stratification, and on-treatment therapy monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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13 pages, 1910 KiB  
Article
S100-EPISPOT: A New Tool to Detect Viable Circulating Melanoma Cells
by Laure Cayrefourcq, Aurélie De Roeck, Caroline Garcia, Pierre-Emmanuel Stoebner, Fanny Fichel, Françoise Garima, Françoise Perriard, Jean-Pierre Daures, Laurent Meunier and Catherine Alix-Panabières
Cells 2019, 8(7), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070755 - 20 Jul 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4382
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is one of the most aggressive and drug-resistant cancers with very poor overall survival. Circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) were first described in 1991. However, there is no general consensus on the clinical utility of CMC detection, largely due to conflicting results [...] Read more.
Metastatic melanoma is one of the most aggressive and drug-resistant cancers with very poor overall survival. Circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) were first described in 1991. However, there is no general consensus on the clinical utility of CMC detection, largely due to conflicting results linked to the use of heterogeneous patient populations and different detection methods. Here, we developed a new EPithelial ImmunoSPOT (EPISPOT) assay to detect viable CMCs based on their secretion of the S100 protein (S100-EPISPOT). Then, we compared the results obtained with the S100-EPISPOT assay and the CellSearch® CMC kit using blood samples from a homogeneous population of patients with metastatic melanoma. We found that S100-EPISPOT sensitivity was significantly higher than that of CellSearch®. Specifically, the percentage of patients with ≥2 CMCs was significantly higher using S100-EPISPOT than CellSearch® (48% and 21%, respectively; p = 0.0114). Concerning CMC prognostic value, only the CellSearch® results showed a significant association with overall survival (p = 0.006). However, due to the higher sensitivity of the new S100-EPISPOT assay, it would be interesting to determine whether this functional test could be used in patients with non-metastatic melanoma for the early detection of tumor relapse and for monitoring the treatment response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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11 pages, 1172 KiB  
Article
Detection of AR-V7 in Liquid Biopsies of Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients: A Comparison of AR-V7 Analysis in Circulating Tumor Cells, Circulating Tumor RNA and Exosomes
by Mohammed Nimir, Yafeng Ma, Sarah A. Jeffreys, Thomas Opperman, Francis Young, Tanzila Khan, Pei Ding, Wei Chua, Bavanthi Balakrishnar, Adam Cooper, Paul De Souza and Therese M. Becker
Cells 2019, 8(7), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070688 - 08 Jul 2019
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 5542
Abstract
Detection of androgen receptor (AR) variant 7 (AR-V7) is emerging as a clinically important biomarker in castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Detection is possible from tumor tissue, which is often inaccessible in the advanced disease setting. With recent progress in detecting AR-V7 in [...] Read more.
Detection of androgen receptor (AR) variant 7 (AR-V7) is emerging as a clinically important biomarker in castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Detection is possible from tumor tissue, which is often inaccessible in the advanced disease setting. With recent progress in detecting AR-V7 in circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) and exosomes from prostate cancer patients, liquid biopsies have emerged as an alternative to tumor biopsy. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether these approaches differ in sensitivity in order to achieve the best possible biomarker characterization for the patient. In this study, blood samples from 44 prostate cancer patients were processed for CTCs and ctRNA with subsequent AR-V7 testing, while exosomal RNA was isolated from 16 samples and tested. Detection of AR and AR-V7 was performed using a highly sensitive droplet digital PCR-based assay. AR and AR-V7 RNA were detectable in CTCs, ctRNA and exosome samples. AR-V7 detection from CTCs showed higher sensitivity and has proven specificity compared to detection from ctRNA and exosomes. Considering that CTCs are almost always present in the advanced prostate cancer setting, CTC samples should be considered the liquid biopsy of choice for the detection of this clinically important biomarker. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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19 pages, 5006 KiB  
Article
The Detection and Morphological Analysis of Circulating Tumor and Host Cells in Breast Cancer Xenograft Models
by Loredana Cleris, Maria Grazia Daidone, Emanuela Fina and Vera Cappelletti
Cells 2019, 8(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070683 - 05 Jul 2019
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5057
Abstract
Hematogenous dissemination may occur early in breast cancer (BC). Experimental models could clarify mechanisms, but in their development, the heterogeneity of this neoplasia must be considered. Here, we describe circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the metastatic behavior of several BC cell lines in [...] Read more.
Hematogenous dissemination may occur early in breast cancer (BC). Experimental models could clarify mechanisms, but in their development, the heterogeneity of this neoplasia must be considered. Here, we describe circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the metastatic behavior of several BC cell lines in xenografts. MDA-MB-231, BT-474, MDA-MB-453 and MDA-MB-468 cells were injected at the orthotopic level in immunocompromised mice. CTCs were isolated using a size-based method and identified by cytomorphological criteria. Metastases were detected by COX IV immunohistochemistry. CTCs were detected in 90% of animals in each model. In MDA-MB-231, CTCs were observed after 5 weeks from the injection and step wisely increased at later time points. In animals injected with less aggressive cell lines, the load of single CTCs (mean ± SD CTCs/mL: 1.8 ± 1.3 in BT-474, 122.2 ± 278.5 in MDA-MB-453, 3.4 ± 2.5 in MDA-MB-468) and the frequency of CTC clusters (overall 38%) were lower compared to MDA-MB-231 (946.9 ± 2882.1; 73%). All models had lung metastases, MDA-MB-453 and MDA-MB-468 had ovarian foci too, whereas lymph nodal involvement was observed in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 only. Interestingly, CTCs showed morphological heterogeneity and were rarely associated to host cells. Orthotopic xenograft of BC cell lines offers valid models of hematogenous dissemination and a possible experimental setting to study CTC-blood microenvironment interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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16 pages, 2872 KiB  
Article
Prognostic Significance of TWIST1, CD24, CD44, and ALDH1 Transcript Quantification in EpCAM-Positive Circulating Tumor Cells from Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients
by Areti Strati, Michail Nikolaou, Vassilis Georgoulias and Evi S. Lianidou
Cells 2019, 8(7), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070652 - 29 Jun 2019
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5551
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of EMT-associated (TWIST1) and stem-cell (SC) transcript (CD24, CD44, ALDH1) quantification in EpCAM+ circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of early breast cancer patients. (2) Methods: 100 [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of EMT-associated (TWIST1) and stem-cell (SC) transcript (CD24, CD44, ALDH1) quantification in EpCAM+ circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of early breast cancer patients. (2) Methods: 100 early stage breast cancer patients and 19 healthy donors were enrolled in the study. CD24, CD44, and ALDH1 transcripts of EpCAM+ cells were quantified using a novel highly sensitive and specific quadraplex RT-qPCR, while TWIST1 transcripts were quantified by single RT-qPCR. All patients were followed up for more than 5 years. (3) Results: A significant positive correlation between overexpression of TWIST1 and CD24−/low/CD44high profile was found. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the ER/PR-negative (HR-) patients and those patients with more than 3 positive lymph nodes that overexpressed TWIST1 in EpCAM+ cells had a significant lower DFI (log rank test; p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and OS (log rank test; p = 0.006, p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analysis also revealed the prognostic value of TWIST1 overexpression and CD24−/low/CD44high and CD24−/low/ALDH1high profile for both DFI and OS. (4) Conclusions: Detection of TWIST1 overexpression and stem-cell (CD24, CD44, ALDH1) transcripts in EpCAM+ CTCs provides prognostic information in early stage breast cancer patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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13 pages, 3366 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Kinetic Analyses of Circulating Tumor Cells as Predictive Markers of Treatment Response in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients
by Bianca C. Troncarelli Flores, Virgilio Souza e Silva, Emne Ali Abdallah, Celso A.L. Mello, Maria Letícia Gobo Silva, Gustavo Gomes Mendes, Alexcia Camila Braun, Samuel Aguiar Junior and Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen
Cells 2019, 8(7), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070641 - 26 Jun 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4428
Abstract
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To justify a non-surgical approach, identification of pathologic complete response (pCR) is required. Analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be used to evaluate pCR. [...] Read more.
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). To justify a non-surgical approach, identification of pathologic complete response (pCR) is required. Analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be used to evaluate pCR. We hypothesize that monitoring of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and excision repair protein, RAD23 homolog B (RAD23B), can be used to predict resistance to chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze CTCs from patients with LARC who underwent NCRT plus surgery for expression of TYMS/RAD23B and to evaluate their predictive value. Blood samples from 30 patients were collected prior to NCRT (S1) and prior to surgery (S2). CTCs were isolated and quantified by ISET®, proteins were analyzed by immunocytochemistry, and TYMS mRNA was detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization. CTC counts decreased between S1 and S2 in patients exhibiting pCR (p = 0.02) or partial response (p = 0.01). Regarding protein expression, TYMS was absent in 100% of CTCs from patients with pCR (p = 0.001) yet was expressed in 83% of non-responders at S2 (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, RAD23B was expressed in CTCs from 75% of non-responders at S1 (p = 0.01) and in 100% of non-responders at S2 (p = 0.001). Surprisingly, 100% of non-responders expressed TYMS mRNA at both timepoints (p = 0.001). In addition, TYMS/RAD23B was not detected in the CTCs of patients exhibiting pCR (p = 0.001). We found 83.3% of sensitivity for TYMS mRNA at S1 (p = 0.001) and 100% for TYMS (p = 0.064) and RAD23B (p = 0.01) protein expression at S2. Thus, TYMS mRNA and/or TYMS/RAD23B expression in CTCs, as well as CTC kinetics, have the potential to predict non-response to NCRT and avoid unnecessary radical surgery for LARC patients with pCR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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9 pages, 874 KiB  
Article
Bone Marrow Involvement in Melanoma. Potentials for Detection of Disseminated Tumor Cells and Characterization of Their Subsets by Flow Cytometry
by Olga Chernysheva, Irina Markina, Lev Demidov, Natalia Kupryshina, Svetlana Chulkova, Alexandra Palladina, Alina Antipova and Nikolai Tupitsyn
Cells 2019, 8(6), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8060627 - 21 Jun 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4316
Abstract
Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) are studied as a prognostic factor in many non-hematopoietic tumors. Melanoma is one of the most aggressive tumors. Forty percent of melanoma patients develop distant metastases at five or more years after curative surgery, and frequent manifestations of melanoma [...] Read more.
Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) are studied as a prognostic factor in many non-hematopoietic tumors. Melanoma is one of the most aggressive tumors. Forty percent of melanoma patients develop distant metastases at five or more years after curative surgery, and frequent manifestations of melanoma without an identified primary lesion may reflect the tendency of melanoma cells to spread from indolent sites such as bone marrow (BM). The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possibility of detecting melanoma DTCs in BM based on the expression of a cytoplasmatic premelanocytic glycoprotein HMB-45 using flow cytometry, to estimate the influence of DTCs’ persistence in BM on hematopoiesis, to identify the frequency of BM involvement in patients with melanoma, and to analyze DTC subset composition in melanoma. DTCs are found in 57.4% of skin melanoma cases and in as many as 28.6% of stage I cases, which confirms the aggressive course even of localized disease. Significant differences in the groups with the presence of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs+) and the lack thereof (DTC−) are noted for blast cells, the total content of granulocyte cells, and oxyphilic normoblasts of erythroid raw cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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18 pages, 3809 KiB  
Article
Fibronectin Regulation of Integrin B1 and SLUG in Circulating Tumor Cells
by Jeannette Huaman, Michelle Naidoo, Xingxing Zang and Olorunseun O. Ogunwobi
Cells 2019, 8(6), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8060618 - 20 Jun 2019
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5041
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a critical step in the metastatic cascade and a good tool to study this process. We isolated CTCs from a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a [...] Read more.
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a critical step in the metastatic cascade and a good tool to study this process. We isolated CTCs from a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a human xenograft mouse model of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). From these models, novel primary tumor and CTC cell lines were established. CTCs exhibited greater migration than primary tumor-derived cells, as well as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as observed from decreased E-cadherin and increased SLUG and fibronectin expression. Additionally, when fibronectin was knocked down in CTCs, integrin B1 and SLUG were decreased, indicating regulation of these molecules by fibronectin. Investigation of cell surface molecules and secreted cytokines conferring immunomodulatory advantage to CTCs revealed decreased major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) expression and decreased endostatin, C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5), and proliferin secretion by CTCs. Taken together, these findings indicate that CTCs exhibit distinct characteristics from primary tumor-derived cells. Furthermore, CTCs demonstrate enhanced migration in part through fibronectin regulation of integrin B1 and SLUG. Further study of CTC biology will likely uncover additional important mechanisms of cancer metastasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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13 pages, 2753 KiB  
Article
Circulating Tumor Cells and Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Potentially Resectable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Ancillary Study to the Unicancer Prodige-14 Trial
by François-Clément Bidard, Nicolas Kiavue, Marc Ychou, Luc Cabel, Marc-Henri Stern, Jordan Madic, Adrien Saliou, Aurore Rampanou, Charles Decraene, Olivier Bouché, Michel Rivoire, François Ghiringhelli, Eric Francois, Rosine Guimbaud, Laurent Mineur, Faiza Khemissa-Akouz, Thibault Mazard, Driffa Moussata, Charlotte Proudhon, Jean-Yves Pierga, Trevor Stanbury, Simon Thézenas and Pascale Marianiadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Cells 2019, 8(6), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8060516 - 28 May 2019
Cited by 77 | Viewed by 6204
Abstract
The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and potentially resectable liver metastases (LM) requires quick assessment of mutational status and of response to pre-operative systemic therapy. In a prospective phase II trial (NCT01442935), we investigated the clinical validity of circulating tumor cell [...] Read more.
The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and potentially resectable liver metastases (LM) requires quick assessment of mutational status and of response to pre-operative systemic therapy. In a prospective phase II trial (NCT01442935), we investigated the clinical validity of circulating tumor cell (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection. CRC patients with potentially resectable LM were treated with first-line triplet or doublet chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy. CTC (Cellsearch®) and Kirsten RAt Sarcoma (KRAS) ctDNA (droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) levels were assessed at inclusion, after 4 weeks of therapy and before LM surgery. 153 patients were enrolled. The proportion of patients with high CTC counts (≥3 CTC/7.5mL) decreased during therapy: 19% (25/132) at baseline, 3% (3/108) at week 4 and 0/57 before surgery. ctDNA detection sensitivity at baseline was 91% (N=42/46) and also decreased during treatment. Interestingly, persistently detectable KRAS ctDNA (p = 0.01) at 4 weeks was associated with a lower R0/R1 LM resection rate. Among patients who had a R0/R1 LM resection, those with detectable ctDNA levels before liver surgery had a shorter overall survival (p < 0.001). In CRC patients with limited metastatic spread, ctDNA could be used as liquid biopsy tool. Therefore, ctDNA detection could help to select patients eligible for LM resection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

9 pages, 241 KiB  
Review
Are Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Ready for Clinical Use in Breast Cancer? An Overview of Completed and Ongoing Trials Using CTCs for Clinical Treatment Decisions
by Fabienne Schochter, Thomas W. P. Friedl, Amelie deGregorio, Sabrina Krause, Jens Huober, Brigitte Rack and Wolfgang Janni
Cells 2019, 8(11), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8111412 - 08 Nov 2019
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 3994
Abstract
In recent years, breast cancer treatment has become increasingly individualized. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential to move personalized medicine another step forward. The prognostic relevance of CTCs has already been proven both in early and metastatic breast cancer. In addition, there [...] Read more.
In recent years, breast cancer treatment has become increasingly individualized. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential to move personalized medicine another step forward. The prognostic relevance of CTCs has already been proven both in early and metastatic breast cancer. In addition, there is evidence that changes in CTC numbers during the course of therapy can predict treatment response. Thus, CTCs are a suitable tool for repeated treatment monitoring through noninvasive liquid biopsy. The next step is to evaluate how this information can be used for clinical decision making with regard to the extension, modification, or abandonment of a treatment regimen. This review will summarize the completed and ongoing clinical trials using CTC number or phenotype for treatment decisions. Based on current knowledge, CTCs can be regarded as a useful prognostic and predictive marker that is well suited for both risk stratification and treatment monitoring in breast cancer patients. However, there is still the need to provide sufficient and unequivocal evidence for whether CTCs may indeed be used to guide treatment decisions in everyday clinical practice. The results of the ongoing trials described in this review are eagerly awaited to answer these important questions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
10 pages, 1017 KiB  
Review
Cooperative and Escaping Mechanisms between Circulating Tumor Cells and Blood Constituents
by Carmen Garrido-Navas, Diego de Miguel-Pérez, Jose Exposito-Hernandez, Clara Bayarri, Victor Amezcua, Alba Ortigosa, Javier Valdivia, Rosa Guerrero, Jose Luis Garcia Puche, Jose Antonio Lorente and Maria José Serrano
Cells 2019, 8(11), 1382; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8111382 - 03 Nov 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4370
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and despite measurable progress in the field, underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) disseminate within the bloodstream, where most of them die due to the attack of the immune system. [...] Read more.
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and despite measurable progress in the field, underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) disseminate within the bloodstream, where most of them die due to the attack of the immune system. On the other hand, recent evidence shows active interactions between CTCs and platelets, myeloid cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and other hematopoietic cells that secrete immunosuppressive cytokines, which aid CTCs to evade the immune system and enable metastasis. Platelets, for instance, regulate inflammation, recruit neutrophils, and cause fibrin clots, which may protect CTCs from the attack of Natural Killer cells or macrophages and facilitate extravasation. Recently, a correlation between the commensal microbiota and the inflammatory/immune tone of the organism has been stablished. Thus, the microbiota may affect the development of cancer-promoting conditions. Furthermore, CTCs may suffer phenotypic changes, as those caused by the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, that also contribute to the immune escape and resistance to immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the findings regarding the collaborative biological events among CTCs, immune cells, and microbiome associated to immune escape and metastatic progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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15 pages, 1260 KiB  
Review
New Frontiers in Diagnosis and Therapy of Circulating Tumor Markers in Cerebrospinal Fluid In Vitro and In Vivo
by Olga A. Sindeeva, Roman A. Verkhovskii, Mustafa Sarimollaoglu, Galina A. Afanaseva, Alexander S. Fedonnikov, Evgeny Yu. Osintsev, Elena N. Kurochkina, Dmitry A. Gorin, Sergey M. Deyev, Vladimir P. Zharov and Ekaterina I. Galanzha
Cells 2019, 8(10), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8101195 - 02 Oct 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5314
Abstract
One of the greatest challenges in neuro-oncology is diagnosis and therapy (theranostics) of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), brain metastasis (BM) and brain tumors (BT), which are associated with poor prognosis in patients. Retrospective analyses suggest that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is one of the promising [...] Read more.
One of the greatest challenges in neuro-oncology is diagnosis and therapy (theranostics) of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), brain metastasis (BM) and brain tumors (BT), which are associated with poor prognosis in patients. Retrospective analyses suggest that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is one of the promising diagnostic targets because CSF passes through central nervous system, harvests tumor-related markers from brain tissue and, then, delivers them into peripheral parts of the human body where CSF can be sampled using minimally invasive and routine clinical procedure. However, limited sensitivity of the established clinical diagnostic cytology in vitro and MRI in vivo together with minimal therapeutic options do not provide patient care at early, potentially treatable, stages of LM, BM and BT. Novel technologies are in demand. This review outlines the advantages, limitations and clinical utility of emerging liquid biopsy in vitro and photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) in vivo for assessment of CSF markers including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNA (miRNA), proteins, exosomes and emboli. The integration of in vitro and in vivo methods, PAFC-guided theranostics of single CTCs and targeted drug delivery are discussed as future perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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17 pages, 736 KiB  
Review
CTC-Derived Models: A Window into the Seeding Capacity of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)
by Tala Tayoun, Vincent Faugeroux, Marianne Oulhen, Agathe Aberlenc, Patrycja Pawlikowska and Françoise Farace
Cells 2019, 8(10), 1145; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8101145 - 25 Sep 2019
Cited by 86 | Viewed by 8043
Abstract
Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death owing to the blood-borne dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) early in the process. A rare fraction of CTCs harboring a stem cell profile and tumor initiation capacities is thought to possess the clonogenic potential [...] Read more.
Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death owing to the blood-borne dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) early in the process. A rare fraction of CTCs harboring a stem cell profile and tumor initiation capacities is thought to possess the clonogenic potential to seed new lesions. The highest plasticity has been generally attributed to CTCs with a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, demonstrating a large heterogeneity among these cells. Therefore, detection and functional characterization of these subclones may offer insight into mechanisms underlying CTC tumorigenicity and inform on the complex biology behind metastatic spread. Although an in-depth mechanistic investigation is limited by the extremely low CTC count in circulation, significant progress has been made over the past few years to establish relevant systems from patient CTCs. CTC-derived xenograft (CDX) models and CTC-derived ex vivo cultures have emerged as tractable systems to explore tumor-initiating cells (TICs) and uncover new therapeutic targets. Here, we introduce basic knowledge of CTC biology, including CTC clusters and evidence for EMT/cancer stem cell (CSC) hybrid phenotypes. We report and evaluate the CTC-derived models generated to date in different types of cancer and shed a light on challenges and key findings associated with these novel assays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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14 pages, 317 KiB  
Review
CTCs 2020: Great Expectations or Unreasonable Dreams
by Elisabetta Rossi and Francesco Fabbri
Cells 2019, 8(9), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8090989 - 27 Aug 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3496
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cellular elements that can be scattered into the bloodstream from primary cancer, metastasis, and even from a disseminated tumor cell (DTC) reservoir. CTCs are “seeds”, able to give rise to new metastatic lesions. Since metastases are the cause [...] Read more.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cellular elements that can be scattered into the bloodstream from primary cancer, metastasis, and even from a disseminated tumor cell (DTC) reservoir. CTCs are “seeds”, able to give rise to new metastatic lesions. Since metastases are the cause of about 90% of cancer-related deaths, the significance of CTCs is unquestionable. However, two major issues have stalled their full clinical exploitation: rarity and heterogeneity. Therefore, their full clinical potential has only been predicted. Finding new ways of studying and using such tremendously rare and important events can open new areas of research in the field of cancer research, and could drastically improve tumor companion diagnostics, personalized treatment strategies, overall patients management, and reduce healthcare costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
12 pages, 662 KiB  
Review
Circulating Tumor Cell PD-L1 Expression as Biomarker for Therapeutic Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in NSCLC
by Vera Kloten, Rita Lampignano, Thomas Krahn and Thomas Schlange
Cells 2019, 8(8), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8080809 - 01 Aug 2019
Cited by 75 | Viewed by 6633
Abstract
Over the last decade, the immune checkpoint blockade targeting the programmed death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis has improved progression-free and overall survival of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. PD-L1 tumor expression, along with tumor mutational burden, is [...] Read more.
Over the last decade, the immune checkpoint blockade targeting the programmed death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis has improved progression-free and overall survival of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. PD-L1 tumor expression, along with tumor mutational burden, is currently being explored as a predictive biomarker for responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, lung cancer patients may have insufficient tumor tissue samples and the high bleeding risk often prevents additional biopsies and, as a consequence, immunohistological evaluation of PD-L1 expression. In addition, PD-L1 shows a dynamic expression profile and can be influenced by intratumoral heterogeneity as well as the immune cell infiltrate in the tumor and its microenvironment, influencing the response rate to PD-1/PD-L1 axis ICIs. Therefore, to identify subgroups of patients with advanced NSCLC that will most likely benefit from ICI therapies, molecular characterization of PD-L1 expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) might be supportive. In this review, we highlight the use of CTCs as a complementary diagnostic tool for PD-L1 expression analysis in advanced NSCLC patients. In addition, we examine technical issues of PD-L1 measurement in tissue as well as in CTCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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12 pages, 1143 KiB  
Review
Never Travel Alone: The Crosstalk of Circulating Tumor Cells and the Blood Microenvironment
by Simon Heeke, Baharia Mograbi, Catherine Alix-Panabières and Paul Hofman
Cells 2019, 8(7), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070714 - 13 Jul 2019
Cited by 95 | Viewed by 8247
Abstract
Commonly, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are described as source of metastasis in cancer patients. However, in this process cancer cells of the primary tumor site need to survive the physical and biological challenges in the blood stream before leaving the circulation to become [...] Read more.
Commonly, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are described as source of metastasis in cancer patients. However, in this process cancer cells of the primary tumor site need to survive the physical and biological challenges in the blood stream before leaving the circulation to become the seed of a new metastatic site in distant parenchyma. Most of the CTCs released in the blood stream will not resist those challenges and will consequently fail to induce metastasis. A few of them, however, interact closely with other blood cells, such as neutrophils, platelets, and/or macrophages to survive in the blood stream. Recent studies demonstrated that the interaction and modulation of the blood microenvironment by CTCs is pivotal for the development of new metastasis, making it an interesting target for potential novel treatment strategies. This review will discuss the recent research on the processes in the blood microenvironment with CTCs and will outline currently investigated treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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15 pages, 332 KiB  
Review
Clinical Impact of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer
by Lucile Broncy and Patrizia Paterlini-Bréchot
Cells 2019, 8(7), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8070676 - 03 Jul 2019
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 3892
Abstract
The main issue concerning localized prostate cancers is the lack of a suitable marker which could help patients’ stratification at diagnosis and distinguish those with a benign disease from patients with a more aggressive cancer. Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are spread in the [...] Read more.
The main issue concerning localized prostate cancers is the lack of a suitable marker which could help patients’ stratification at diagnosis and distinguish those with a benign disease from patients with a more aggressive cancer. Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are spread in the blood by invasive tumors and could be the ideal marker in this setting. Therefore, we have compiled data from the literature in order to obtain clues about the clinical impact of CTC in patients with localized prostate cancer. Forty-three publications have been found reporting analyses of CTC in patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Of these, we have made a further selection of 11 studies targeting patients with clinical or pathological stages T1 and T2 and reporting the clinical impact of CTC. The results of this search show encouraging data toward the use of CTC in patients with early-stage cancer. However, they also highlight the lack of standardized methods providing a highly sensitive and specific approach for the detection of prostate-derived CTC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
21 pages, 1246 KiB  
Review
Insights on CTC Biology and Clinical Impact Emerging from Advances in Capture Technology
by Patrick C. Bailey and Stuart S. Martin
Cells 2019, 8(6), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8060553 - 06 Jun 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 9471
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) have been shown to correlate negatively with patient survival. Actual CTC counts before and after treatment can be used to aid in the prognosis of patient outcomes. The presence of circulating tumor materials (CTMat) [...] Read more.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) have been shown to correlate negatively with patient survival. Actual CTC counts before and after treatment can be used to aid in the prognosis of patient outcomes. The presence of circulating tumor materials (CTMat) can advertise the presence of metastasis before clinical presentation, enabling the early detection of relapse. Importantly, emerging evidence is indicating that cancer treatments can actually increase the incidence of CTCs and metastasis in pre-clinical models. Subsequently, the study of CTCs, their biology and function are of vital importance. Emerging technologies for the capture of CTC/CTMs and CTMat are elucidating vitally important biological and functional information that can lead to important alterations in how therapies are administered. This paves the way for the development of a “liquid biopsy” where treatment decisions can be informed by information gleaned from tumor cells and tumor cell debris in the blood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Tumor Cells: Finding Rare Events for A Huge Knowledge of Cancer Dissemination)
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