Cortés-Hernández LE, Eslami-S Z, Pantel K, Alix-Panabières C. Circulating Tumor Cells: From Basic to Translational Research.
Clin Chem 2024;
70:81-89. [PMID:
38175586 PMCID:
PMC10765989 DOI:
10.1093/clinchem/hvad142]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
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.
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