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Aghajanloo B, Hadady H, Ejeian F, Inglis DW, Hughes MP, Tehrani AF, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Biomechanics of circulating cellular and subcellular bioparticles: beyond separation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:331. [PMID: 38886776 PMCID: PMC11181607 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01707-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomechanical attributes have emerged as novel markers, providing a reliable means to characterize cellular and subcellular fractions. Numerous studies have identified correlations between these factors and patients' medical status. However, the absence of a thorough overview impedes their applicability in contemporary state-of-the-art therapeutic strategies. In this context, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the dimensions, configuration, rigidity, density, and electrical characteristics of normal and abnormal circulating cells. Subsequently, the discussion broadens to encompass subcellular bioparticles, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched either from blood cells or other tissues. Notably, cell sizes vary significantly, from 2 μm for platelets to 25 μm for circulating tumor cells (CTCs), enabling the development of size-based separation techniques, such as microfiltration, for specific diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Although cellular density is relatively constant among different circulating bioparticles, it allows for reliable density gradient centrifugation to isolate cells without altering their native state. Additionally, variations in EV surface charges (-6.3 to -45 mV) offer opportunities for electrophoretic and electrostatic separation methods. The distinctive mechanical properties of abnormal cells, compared to their normal counterparts, present an exceptional opportunity for diverse medical and biotechnological approaches. This review also aims to provide a holistic view of the current understanding of popular techniques in this domain that transcend conventional boundaries, focusing on early harvesting of malignant cells from body fluids, designing effective therapeutic options, cell targeting, and resonating with tissue and genetic engineering principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrouz Aghajanloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
- Department of Science, Research and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Hanieh Hadady
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ejeian
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - David W Inglis
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Michael Pycraft Hughes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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Hassanzadeh-Barforoushi A, Tukova A, Nadalini A, Inglis DW, Chang-Hao Tsao S, Wang Y. Microfluidic-SERS Technologies for CTC: A Perspective on Clinical Translation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38652011 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Enumeration and phenotypic profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provide critical information for clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring in cancer. To achieve this goal, an integrated system is needed to efficiently isolate CTCs from patient samples and sensitively evaluate their phenotypes. Such integration would comprise a high-throughput single-cell processing unit for the isolation and manipulation of CTCs and a sensitive and multiplexed quantitation unit to detect clinically relevant signals from these cells. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used as an analytical method for molecular profiling and in vitro cancer diagnosis. More recently, its multiplexing capability and power to create distinct molecular signatures against their targets have garnered attention. Here, we share our insights into the combined power of microfluidics and SERS in realizing CTC isolation, enumeration, and detection from a clinical translation perspective. We highlight the key operational factors in CTC microfluidic processing and SERS detection from patient samples. We further discuss microfluidic-SERS integration and its clinical utility as a paradigm shift in clinical CTC-based cancer diagnosis and prognostication. Finally, we summarize the challenges and attempt to look forward to what lies ahead of us in potentially translating the technique into real clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hassanzadeh-Barforoushi
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Anastasiia Tukova
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Audrey Nadalini
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - David W Inglis
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Simon Chang-Hao Tsao
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Yuling Wang
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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3
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Smit DJ, Pantel K. Circulating tumor cells as liquid biopsy markers in cancer patients. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101258. [PMID: 38387225 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, novel methods for enrichment and identification of cancer cells circulating in the blood have been established. Blood-based detection of cancer cells and other tumor-associated products can be summarized under the term of Liquid Biopsy. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been used for diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment selection as well as treatment monitoring in several studies over the past years, thus representing a valuable biomarker for cancer patients. A plethora of methods to enrich, detect and analyze CTCs has been established. In contrast to other liquid biopsy analytes (e.g. ctDNA), CTCs represent a viable analyte that provides a unique opportunity to understand the underlaying biology of cancer and the metastatic cascade on the molecular level. In this review, we provide an overview on the current methods used for enrichment, detection, molecular and functional characterization of CTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Smit
- Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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Ntzifa A, Lianidou E. Pre-analytical conditions and implementation of quality control steps in liquid biopsy analysis. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2023; 60:573-594. [PMID: 37518938 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2023.2230290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, great advancements have been made in the field of liquid biopsy through extensive research and the development of new technologies that facilitate the use of liquid biopsy for cancer patients. This is shown by the numerous liquid biopsy tests that gained clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recent years. Liquid biopsy has significantly altered cancer treatment by providing clinicians with powerful and immediate information about therapeutic decisions. However, the clinical integration of liquid biopsy is still challenging and there are many critical factors to consider prior to its implementation into routine clinical practice. Lack of standardization due to technical challenges and the definition of the clinical utility of specific assays further complicates the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in liquid biopsy. Harmonization of laboratories to established guidelines is of major importance to overcome inter-lab variabilities observed. Quality control assessment in diagnostic laboratories that offer liquid biopsy testing will ensure that clinicians can base their therapeutic decisions on robust results. The regular participation of laboratories in external quality assessment schemes for liquid biopsy testing aims to promptly pinpoint deficiencies and efficiently educate laboratories to improve their quality of services. Accreditation of liquid biopsy diagnostic laboratories based on the ISO15189 standard in Europe or by CLIA/CAP accreditation procedures in the US is the best way to achieve the adaptation of liquid biopsy into the clinical setting by assuring reliable results for the clinicians and their cancer patients. Nowadays, various organizations from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies collaborate to set a framework that will include all procedures from the pre-analytical phase and the analytical process to the final interpretation of results. In this review, we underline several challenges in the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) concerning standardization of protocols, quality control assessment, harmonization of laboratories, and compliance to specific guidelines that need to be thoroughly considered before liquid biopsy enters the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliki Ntzifa
- Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Lab, Lab of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evi Lianidou
- Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Lab, Lab of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Chu PY, Nguyen TNA, Wu AY, Huang PS, Huang KL, Liao CJ, Hsieh CH, Wu MH. The Utilization of Optically Induced Dielectrophoresis (ODEP)-Based Cell Manipulation in a Microfluidic System for the Purification and Sorting of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) with Different Sizes. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:2170. [PMID: 38138338 PMCID: PMC10745986 DOI: 10.3390/mi14122170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) at the molecular level holds great promise for several clinical applications. For this goal, the harvest of high-purity, size-sorted CTCs with different subtypes from a blood sample are important. For this purpose, a two-step CTC isolation protocol was proposed, by which the immunomagnetic beads-based cell separation was first utilized to remove the majority of blood cells. After that, an optically induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP) microfluidic system was developed to (1) purify the CTCs from the remaining magnetic microbeads-bound blood cells and to (2) sort and separate the CTCs with different sizes. In this study, the ODEP microfluidic system was designed and fabricated. Moreover, its optimum operation conditions and performance were explored. The results exhibited that the presented technique was able to purify and sort the cancer cells with two different sizes from a tested cell suspension in a high-purity (93.5% and 90.1% for the OECM 1 and HA22T cancer cells, respectively) manner. Overall, this study presented a technique for the purification and sorting of cancer cells with different sizes. Apart from this application, the technique is also useful for other applications in which the high-purity and label-free purification and sorting of cells with different sizes is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Yu Chu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
| | - Thi Ngoc Anh Nguyen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
| | - Ai-Yun Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
| | - Po-Shuan Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
| | - Kai-Lin Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
| | - Chia-Jung Liao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Chia-Hsun Hsieh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei City Municipal Tucheng Hospital, New Taipei City 23652, Taiwan;
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan
| | - Min-Hsien Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan; (P.-Y.C.); (T.N.A.N.); (A.-Y.W.); (P.-S.H.); (K.-L.H.)
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei City Municipal Tucheng Hospital, New Taipei City 23652, Taiwan;
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan
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Reinhardt F, Coen L, Rivandi M, Franken A, Setyono ESA, Lindenberg T, Eberhardt J, Fehm T, Niederacher D, Knopf F, Neubauer H. DanioCTC: Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells from Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients in Zebrafish Xenografts. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5411. [PMID: 38001672 PMCID: PMC10670801 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) serve as crucial metastatic precursor cells, but their study in animal models has been hindered by their low numbers. To address this challenge, we present DanioCTC, an innovative xenograft workflow that overcomes the scarcity of patient-derived CTCs in animal models. By combining diagnostic leukapheresis (DLA), the Parsortix microfluidic system, flow cytometry, and the CellCelector setup, DanioCTC effectively enriches and isolates CTCs from metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients for injection into zebrafish embryos. Validation experiments confirmed that MDA-MB-231 cells, transplanted following the standard protocol, localized frequently in the head and blood-forming regions of the zebrafish host. Notably, when MDA-MB-231 cells spiked (i.e., supplemented) into DLA aliquots were processed using DanioCTC, the cell dissemination patterns remained consistent. Successful xenografting of CTCs from a MBC patient revealed their primary localization in the head and trunk regions of zebrafish embryos. DanioCTC represents a major step forward in the endeavors to study the dissemination of individual and rare patient-derived CTCs, thereby enhancing our understanding of metastatic breast cancer biology and facilitating the development of targeted interventions in MBC. Summary statement: DanioCTC is a novel workflow to inject patient-derived CTCs into zebrafish, enabling studies of the capacity of these rare tumor cells to induce metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Reinhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Luisa Coen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Mahdi Rivandi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - André Franken
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Eunike Sawitning Ayu Setyono
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Lindenberg
- Anatomical Institute, Neuroanatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Fehm
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dieter Niederacher
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Knopf
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Hans Neubauer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich Heine University of Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO Aachen, Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf), 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Life Science Center, Merowingerplatz 1 A, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Surappa S, Multani P, Parlatan U, Sinawang PD, Kaifi J, Akin D, Demirci U. Integrated "lab-on-a-chip" microfluidic systems for isolation, enrichment, and analysis of cancer biomarkers. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2942-2958. [PMID: 37314731 PMCID: PMC10834032 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01076c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The liquid biopsy has garnered considerable attention as a complementary clinical tool for the early detection, molecular characterization and monitoring of cancer over the past decade. In contrast to traditional solid biopsy techniques, liquid biopsy offers a less invasive and safer alternative for routine cancer screening. Recent advances in microfluidic technologies have enabled handling of liquid biopsy-derived biomarkers with high sensitivity, throughput, and convenience. The integration of these multi-functional microfluidic technologies into a 'lab-on-a-chip' offers a powerful solution for processing and analyzing samples on a single platform, thereby reducing the complexity, bio-analyte loss and cross-contamination associated with multiple handling and transfer steps in more conventional benchtop workflows. This review critically addresses recent developments in integrated microfluidic technologies for cancer detection, highlighting isolation, enrichment, and analysis strategies for three important sub-types of cancer biomarkers: circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA and exosomes. We first discuss the unique characteristics and advantages of the various lab-on-a-chip technologies developed to operate on each biomarker subtype. This is then followed by a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the field of integrated systems for cancer detection. Ultimately, integrated microfluidic platforms form the core of a new class of point-of-care diagnostic tools by virtue of their ease-of-operation, portability and high sensitivity. Widespread availability of such tools could potentially result in more frequent and convenient screening for early signs of cancer at clinical labs or primary care offices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushruta Surappa
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Priyanka Multani
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Ugur Parlatan
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Prima Dewi Sinawang
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jussuf Kaifi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Demir Akin
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
- Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence for Translational Diagnostics (CCNE-TD), School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Utkan Demirci
- Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Lab, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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Strati A, Markou A, Kyriakopoulou E, Lianidou E. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Circulating Tumour Cells: Challenges for the Clinical Setting. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072185. [PMID: 37046848 PMCID: PMC10092977 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, liquid biopsy has gained much attention as a powerful tool in personalized medicine since it enables monitoring cancer evolution and follow-up of cancer patients in real time. Through minimally invasive procedures, liquid biopsy provides important information through the analysis of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and circulating tumour-derived material, such as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), circulating miRNAs (cfmiRNAs) and extracellular vehicles (EVs). CTC analysis has already had an important impact on the prognosis, detection of minimal residual disease (MRD), treatment selection and monitoring of cancer patients. Numerous clinical trials nowadays include a liquid biopsy arm. CTC analysis is now an exponentially expanding field in almost all types of solid cancers. Functional studies, mainly based on CTC-derived cell-lines and CTC-derived explants (CDx), provide important insights into the metastatic process. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest findings on the clinical significance of CTCs for the management of cancer patients, covering the last four years. This review focuses on providing a comprehensive overview of CTC analysis in breast, prostate and non-small-cell lung cancer. The unique potential of CTC single-cell analysis for understanding metastasis biology, and the importance of quality control and standardization of methodologies used in this field, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areti Strati
- Analysis of Circulating Tumour Cells Lab, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Athina Markou
- Analysis of Circulating Tumour Cells Lab, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Evi Lianidou
- Analysis of Circulating Tumour Cells Lab, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
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Obermayr E, Koppensteiner N, Heinzl N, Schuster E, Holzer B, Fabikan H, Weinlinger C, Illini O, Hochmair MJ, Zeillinger R. Effect of short-term storage of blood samples on gene expression in lung cancer patients. Clin Chem Lab Med 2023; 61:294-301. [PMID: 36395488 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The stability of gene transcripts associated with the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been predominantly studied in cultured cancer cell lines added to blood samples under artificial conditions. In the present study the effect of storage on CTC-related transcripts was assessed in blood samples taken from patients with non-small lung cancer (n=58). METHODS The blood samples were split in two equal parts to compare the gene expression with and without storage for 24 h at ambient temperature without preservative added. After enrichment using the microfluidic Parsortix® technology, the expression levels of selected genes were assessed using quantitative PCR following a gene-specific pre-amplification. The prognostic relevance of each gene in fresh and stored blood samples was evaluated using the R-package Survminer. RESULTS Some genes were either not affected (TWIST1, CDH5, CK19) or upregulated upon storage (NANOG, MET, UCHL1) but still associated with poor prognosis. In contrast, ERBB3, PTHLH, EpCAM, and TERT were no longer associated with the overall survival of the patients. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates the surprising stability of CTC-related transcripts, which makes overnight shipping of native blood samples possible. Careful verification is required when using model systems - such as normal blood spiked with tumor cells - or other CTC-related markers, as individual transcripts may respond differently to storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Obermayr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Koppensteiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Heinzl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Schuster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Holzer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah Fabikan
- Karl Landsteiner Institute of Lung Research and Pulmonary Oncology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Weinlinger
- Karl Landsteiner Institute of Lung Research and Pulmonary Oncology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Illini
- Karl Landsteiner Institute of Lung Research and Pulmonary Oncology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna Healthcare Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maximilian J Hochmair
- Karl Landsteiner Institute of Lung Research and Pulmonary Oncology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna Healthcare Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Zeillinger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular Oncology Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Couto-Cunha A, Jerónimo C, Henrique R. Circulating Tumor Cells as Biomarkers for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Ready for Prime Time? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010287. [PMID: 36612281 PMCID: PMC9818240 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is among the 15 most common cancers worldwide, with rising incidence. In most cases, this is a silent disease until it reaches advance stages, demanding new effective biomarkers in all domains, from detection to post-therapy monitoring. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have the potential to provide minimally invasive information to guide assessment of the disease's aggressiveness and therapeutic strategy, representing a special pool of neoplastic cells which bear metastatic potential. In some tumor models, CTCs' enumeration has been associated with prognosis, but there is a largely unexplored potential for clinical applicability encompassing screening, diagnosis, early detection of metastases, prognosis, response to therapy and monitoring. Nonetheless, lack of standardization and high cost hinder the translation into clinical practice. Thus, new methods for collection and analysis (genomic, proteomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and metabolomic) are needed to ascertain the role of CTC as a RCC biomarker. Herein, we provide a critical overview of the most recently published data on the role and clinical potential of CTCs in RCC, addressing their biology and the molecular characterization of this remarkable set of tumor cells. Furthermore, we highlight the existing and emerging techniques for CTC enrichment and detection, exploring clinical applications in RCC. Notwithstanding the notable progress in recent years, the use of CTCs in a routine clinical scenario of RCC patients requires further research and technological development, enabling multimodal analysis to take advantage of the wealth of information they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Couto-Cunha
- Integrated Master in Medicine, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group—Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre Raquel Seruca (P.CCC Raquel Seruca), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Henrique
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group—Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre Raquel Seruca (P.CCC Raquel Seruca), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: or
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11
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Signatures of Breast Cancer Progression in the Blood: What Could Be Learned from Circulating Tumor Cell Transcriptomes. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225668. [PMID: 36428760 PMCID: PMC9688726 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression profiling has revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology, showing an unprecedented ability to impact patient management especially in breast cancer. The vast majority of breast cancer gene expression signatures derive from the analysis of the tumor bulk, an experimental approach that limits the possibility to dissect breast cancer heterogeneity thoroughly and might miss the message hidden in biologically and clinically relevant cell populations. During disease progression or upon selective pressures, cancer cells undergo continuous transcriptional changes, which inevitably affect tumor heterogeneity, response to therapy and tendency to disseminate. Therefore, metastasis-associated signatures and transcriptome-wide gene expression measurement at single-cell resolution hold great promise for the future of breast cancer clinical care. Seen from this perspective, transcriptomics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent an attractive opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap and develop novel biomarkers. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-science on CTC gene expression analysis in breast cancer, addresses technical and clinical issues related to the application of CTC-derived signatures, and discusses potential research directions.
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12
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Detection and Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells Using Imaging Flow Cytometry—A Perspective Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174178. [PMID: 36077716 PMCID: PMC9454939 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Liquid biopsy is non-invasive approach used to prognose and monitor tumor progression based on the detection and examination of metastasis-related events found in the patients’ blood (such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles, and circulating nucleic acids). Different ultrasensitive techniques are applied to study those events and the biology of tumor dissemination, which in the future might complement standard diagnostics. Here, we suggest that CTCs analysis could be improved by the usage of imaging flow cytometry, combining advantages of both standard flow cytometry (high-scale analysis) and microscopy (high resolution) to investigate detailed features of those cells. From this perspective, we discuss the potential of this technology in the CTC field and present representative images of CTCs from breast and prostate cancer patients analyzed with this method. Abstract Tumor dissemination is one of the most-investigated steps of tumor progression, which in recent decades led to the rapid development of liquid biopsy aiming to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and circulating nucleic acids in order to precisely diagnose and monitor cancer patients. Flow cytometry was considered as a method to detect CTCs; however, due to the lack of verification of the investigated cells’ identity, this method failed to reach clinical utility. Meanwhile, imaging flow cytometry combining the sensitivity and high throughput of flow cytometry and image-based detailed analysis through a high-resolution microscope might open a new avenue in CTC technologies and provide an open-platform system alternative to CellSearch®, which is still the only gold standard in this field. Hereby, we shortly review the studies on the usage of flow cytometry in CTC identification and present our own representative images of CTCs envisioned by imaging flow cytometry providing rationale that this novel technology might be a good tool for studying tumor dissemination, and, if combined with a high CTC yield enrichment method, could upgrade CTC-based diagnostics.
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13
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Assessment of a Size-Based Method for Enriching Circulating Tumour Cells in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143446. [PMID: 35884509 PMCID: PMC9319975 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumour cells (CTC) from solid tumours are a prerequisite for metastasis. Isolating CTCs and understanding their biology is essential for developing new clinical tests and precision oncology. Currently, CellSearch is the only FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)-approved method for CTC enrichment but possesses several drawbacks owing to a reliance on the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and a resource-intensive nature. Addressing these shortcomings, we optimised an existing size-based method, MetaCell, to enrich CTCs from blood of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We evaluated the ability of MetaCell to enrich CTCs by spiking blood with CRC cell lines and assessing the cell recovery rates and WBC depletion via immunostaining and gene expression. We then applied MetaCell to samples from 17 CRC patients and seven controls. Recovery rates were >85% in cell lines, with >95% depletion in WBCs. MetaCell yielded CTCs and CTC clusters in 52.9% and 23.5% of the patients, respectively, without false positives in control patients. CTCs and cluster detection did not correlate with histopathological parameters. Overall, we demonstrated that the MetaCell platform enriched CRC cells with high recovery rates and high purity. Our pilot study also demonstrated the ability of MetaCell to detect CTCs in CRC patients.
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14
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Da Col G, Del Ben F, Bulfoni M, Turetta M, Gerratana L, Bertozzi S, Beltrami AP, Cesselli D. Image Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells and Leukocytes Predicts Survival and Metastatic Pattern in Breast Cancer Patients. Front Oncol 2022; 12:725318. [PMID: 35223462 PMCID: PMC8866934 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.725318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of the present work was to test whether quantitative image analysis of circulating cells can provide useful clinical information targeting bone metastasis (BM) and overall survival (OS >30 months) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods Starting from cell images of epithelial circulating tumor cells (eCTC) and leukocytes (CD45pos) obtained with DEPArray, we identified the most significant features and applied single-variable and multi-variable methods, screening all combinations of four machine-learning approaches (Naïve Bayes, Logistic regression, Decision Trees, Random Forest). Results Best predictive features were circularity (OS) and diameter (BM), in both eCTC and CD45pos. Median difference in OS was 15 vs. 43 (months), p = 0.03 for eCTC and 19 vs. 36, p = 0.16 for CD45pos. Prediction for BM showed low accuracy (64%, 53%) but strong positive predictive value PPV (79%, 91%) for eCTC and CD45, respectively. Best machine learning model was Naïve Bayes, showing 46 vs 11 (months), p <0.0001 for eCTC; 12.5 vs. 45, p = 0.0004 for CD45pos and 11 vs. 45, p = 0.0003 for eCTC + CD45pos. BM prediction reached 91% accuracy with eCTC, 84% with CD45pos and 91% with combined model. Conclusions Quantitative image analysis and machine learning models were effective methods to predict survival and metastatic pattern, with both eCTC and CD45pos containing significant and complementary information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Da Col
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Del Ben
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Michela Bulfoni
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Udine (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Matteo Turetta
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Translational Research, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Gerratana
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
| | - Serena Bertozzi
- Department of Surgery, AOU "S. Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Cesselli
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.,Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Udine (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
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15
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Application of Microfluidic Systems for Breast Cancer Research. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13020152. [PMID: 35208277 PMCID: PMC8877872 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control; breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Due to early screening and advancements in therapeutic interventions, deaths from breast cancer have declined over time, although breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Most deaths are due to metastasis, as cancer cells from the primary tumor in the breast form secondary tumors in remote sites in distant organs. Over many years, the basic biological mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, as well as the subsequent metastatic cascade, have been studied using cell cultures and animal models. These models, although extremely useful for delineating cellular mechanisms, are poor predictors of physiological responses, primarily due to lack of proper microenvironments. In the last decade, microfluidics has emerged as a technology that could lead to a paradigm shift in breast cancer research. With the introduction of the organ-on-a-chip concept, microfluidic-based systems have been developed to reconstitute the dominant functions of several organs. These systems enable the construction of 3D cellular co-cultures mimicking in vivo tissue-level microenvironments, including that of breast cancer. Several reviews have been presented focusing on breast cancer formation, growth and metastasis, including invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. In this review, realizing that breast cancer can recur decades following post-treatment disease-free survival, we expand the discussion to account for microfluidic applications in the important areas of breast cancer detection, dormancy, and therapeutic development. It appears that, in the future, the role of microfluidics will only increase in the effort to eradicate breast cancer.
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16
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Undvall Anand E, Magnusson C, Lenshof A, Ceder Y, Lilja H, Laurell T. Two-Step Acoustophoresis Separation of Live Tumor Cells from Whole Blood. Anal Chem 2021; 93:17076-17085. [PMID: 34913344 PMCID: PMC8717332 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
There is an unmet
clinical need to extract living circulating tumor
cells (CTCs) for functional studies and in vitro expansion
to enable drug testing and predict responses to therapy in metastatic
cancer. Here, we present a novel two-step acoustophoresis (A2) method for isolation of unfixed, viable cancer cells from red blood
cell (RBC) lysed whole blood. The A2 method uses an initial
acoustofluidic preseparation step to separate cells based on their
acoustic mobility. This acoustofluidic step enriches viable cancer
cells in a central outlet, but a significant number of white blood
cells (WBCs) remain in the central outlet fraction due to overlapping
acoustophysical properties of these viable cells. A subsequent purging
step was employed to remove contaminating WBCs through negative selection
acoustophoresis with anti-CD45-functionalized negative acoustic contrast
particles. We processed 1 mL samples of 1:1 diluted RBC lysed whole
blood mixed with 10 000 DU145 cells through the A2 method. Additional experiments were performed using 1000 DU145 cells
spiked into 1.5 × 106 WBCs in 1 mL of buffer to further
elucidate the dynamic range of the method. Using samples with 10 000
DU145 cells, we obtained 459 ± 188-fold depletion of WBC and
42% recovery of viable cancer cells. Based on spiked samples with
1000 DU145 cells, our cancer cell recovery was 28% with 247 ±
156-fold WBC depletion corresponding to a depletion efficacy of ≥99.5%.
The novel A2 method provides extensive elimination of WBCs
combined with the gentle recovery of viable cancer cells suitable
for downstream functional analyses and in vitro culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Undvall Anand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Magnusson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lenshof
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Ceder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hans Lilja
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Surgery (Urology), and Medicine (GU Oncology), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Thomas Laurell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Profiling heterogenous sizes of circulating tumor microemboli to track therapeutic resistance and prognosis in advanced gastric cancer. Hum Cell 2021; 34:1446-1454. [PMID: 34152566 PMCID: PMC8338835 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-021-00568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) aggregated by ≥ 2 circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are more migratory than single CTCs. Aside from the plasticity in their molecular characteristics, which have been considered tumor migration, CTM also possesses high size heterogeneity. This study, therefore, systematically investigated the heterogeneous sizes of CTM and their involvement in therapeutic resistance in 114 patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) using a pre-established surface molecule-independent subtraction enrichment (SE)-iFISH strategy. CTM, which was pre-therapeutically detected in 33.3% of GC patients, can further form in another 34.78% of patients following chemo-/targeted therapies. The presence of CTM is relevant to liver metastasis as well as higher CTC levels (≥ 5/6 mL). Further size-based profiling of GC-CTM revealed that CTM with 2 CTCs (CTM2) was the dominant subtype, accounting for 50.0% of all detected GC-CTMs. However, CTM with 3–4 CTCs (CTM3–4) specifically associates with chemo-/targeted therapeutic resistance and inferior prognosis. Patients with ≥ 1 CTM3–4/6 mL have shorter median progression-free survival and median overall survival. Unlike CTM2 and CTM3–4, which are detectable in pre-therapy and post-therapy, larger aggregated CTM≥5 (CTM with ≥ 5 CTCs) was only intra-therapeutically detected in four HER2+ GC patients, of which three experienced liver metastases. Obtained results suggested that the cluster size of GC-CTM should be dynamically profiled beyond pre-therapeutic whole CTM enumeration in terms of chemo-/targeted resistance or metastasis monitoring. GC-CTM3–4 could be a potential indicator of therapeutic resistance, while the dynamic presence of GC-CTM≥5 implies liver metastasis in HER2+ GC patients.
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