Detection and clinical application of circulating tumor cells

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-5820.03.011

Abstract

Abstract:

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) analysis as a liquid biopsy could be carried out in a realtime manner. With the development of the technology in enrichment, separation, and detection, one single tumor cell lurking among a billion normal hematopoietic cells can be detected. There is much evidence regarding the ability to detect CTC and their prognostic relevance. The application in cancer diagnosis and staging, therapeutic response monitoring, and personalized medicine is clinically even more meaningful. Recently, CTC was used as a monitoring parameter in many clinical trials in diagnosing the early and metastatic cancer. Numerous translational studies attempting their molecular characterization are under way. CTC as a tool to monitor treatment response could be widely implemented, especially leading to more powerful treatment strategies for cancer patients.

Key words: Circulating tumor cells, Liquid biopsy, Diagnosis and staging, Prognosis, Therapeutic response monitoring, Personalized medicine

Wei Guo, Yunfan Sun, Baishen Pan, Jia Fan. Detection and clinical application of circulating tumor cells[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Management(Electronic Edition), 2014, 02(03): 179-184.

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