Circulating Tumor Cells: From Metastatic Biology to Precision Medicine Applications
This Clinical Chemistry review covers recent advances in CTC enumeration and molecular profiling, from their role in understanding the metastatic cascade to translational applications in precision oncology. Single-cell CTC analysis is revealing the complexity of blood-borne cancer dissemination and opening new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
The original study
Circulating Tumor Cells: From Basic to Translational Research.
- Authors
- Cortés-Hernández LE, Eslami-S Z, Pantel K, Alix-Panabières C
- Journal
- Clinical chemistry
- Type
- Review, Journal Article
- PMID
- 38175586
Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most studies have focused on the primary tumor or on overt metastatic lesions, leaving a significant knowledge gap concerning blood-borne cancer cell dissemination, a major step in the metastatic cascade. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of patients with solid cancer can now be enumerated and investigated at the molecular level, giving unexpected information on the biology of the metastatic cascade. CONTENT: Here, we reviewed recent advances in basic and translational/clinical research on CTCs as key elements in the metastatic cascade. SUMMARY: Findings from translational studies on CTCs have elucidated the complexity of the metastatic process. Fully understanding this process will open new potential avenues for cancer therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to propose precision medicine to all cancer patients.