Diagnosis and therapeutic relevance of micrometastases.
The disseminated isolated tumor cell has become a formidable object of solid tumor research for at least three good reasons: it can be identified in organ compartments such as bone marrow, blood, and lymph nodes and, once found, it can be morphologically characterized with respect to tumor-associated antigens, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, proliferation markers, and/or growth receptors. Thirdly, it is also an ideal target for immunotherapy directed at accessible, well-defined membrane-associated antigens of the tumor cell.
Munich Tumor Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Germany.
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Holz
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Pantel
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Riethmüller
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009857:Oncogenes; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor