title: Molecular profiling and predictive value of circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic breast cancer: an option for monitoring response to breast cancer related therapies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood of metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 42) and determined the ability of this method to predict therapy response.
  
  
  METHODS
  CTC from blood were analyzed before and during therapy for EpCAM, MUC1 and HER2 transcripts with the AdnaTest BreastCancer. The estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor expression was assessed by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall detection rate for CTC was 52% (thereof 86% EpCAM; 86% MUC1; 32% HER2; 35% ER; 12% PR). CTC were ER, PR and HER2 negative in 45% (ER), 78% (PR) and 60% (HER-2) of patients with steroid receptor-positive tumors. 29% of patients with HER2-negative tumors had HER2-positive CTC. The test predicted therapy response in 78% of all cases. Persistence of CTC significantly correlated with shorter overall survival (P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Molecular profiling of CTC may offer superior prognostic information with regard to risk assessment for recurrence and predictive judgement of therapeutical regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tewes
authors.forename: Bahriye
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Welt
authors.forename: Siemke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauch
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimmig
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasimir-Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D018396:Mucin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; C060192:MUC1 protein, human