title: Cytopathologic detection of circulating tumor cells using the isolation by size of epithelial tumor cell method: promises and pitfalls.
abstract: Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) morphologically may be a promising new approach in clinical oncology. We tested the reliability of a cytomorphologic approach to identify CTCs: 808 blood samples from patients with benign and malignant diseases and healthy volunteers were examined using the isolation by size of epithelial tumor cell (ISET) method. Cells having nonhematologic features (so-called circulating nonhematologic cells [CNHCs]) were classified into 3 categories: CNHCs with malignant features, CNHCs with uncertain malignant features, and CNHCs with benign features. CNHCs were found in 11.1% and 48.9% of patients with nonmalignant and malignant pathologies, respectively (P < .001). CNHCs with malignant features were observed in 5.3% and in 43.1% of patients with nonmalignant and malignant pathologies, respectively. Cytopathologic identification of CTCs using the ISET method represents a promising field for cytopathologists. The possibility of false-positive diagnosis stresses the need for using ancillary methods to improve this approach.
authors.affiliation: Inserm ERI/EA, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Véronique J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Marius I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ilie
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonnetaud
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selva
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vignaud
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fléjou
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lantuejoul
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piaton
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butori
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poudenx
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bahadoran
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sibon
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vénissac
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mouroux
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vielh
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hofman
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D048429:Cell Size; D032921:Consensus; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results