title: Detection and molecular characterisation of disseminated tumour cells: implications for anti-cancer therapy.
abstract: Haematogenous distant metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death in solid tumours. By applying sensitive immunocytochemical and molecular assays, disseminated tumour cells (DTC) in bone marrow (BM) can be detected in 20-40% of cancer patients without any clinical or even histopathological signs of metastasis, and the presence of these DTC at primary diagnosis predicts the subsequent occurrence of overt metastases in bone and other organs. The detection and characterisation of DTC in BM may lead to a better understanding of the biology initiating metastatic spread in cancer patients and will eventually contribute to the development of more effective strategies to eliminate DTC. In this review, we will therefore discuss the detection and characterisation of DTC in the light of new therapeutic strategies targeting tumour-associated molecules and signalling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tumour Biology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg, Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. pantel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantel
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Woelfle
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000628:therapy; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004164:Diphosphonates; D006727:Hormone Antagonists