CD49f-based selection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) improves detection across breast cancer subtypes.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be enumerated using CellSearch, but not all breast cancer subtypes, specifically those with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics, sufficiently express the enrichment (EpCAM) and selection (CK8/18/19) markers used in this method. While CD146 can detect EpCAM-negative CTCs, we here evaluated the value of various cytokeratins and CD49f to detect CK8/18/19-negative CTCs. The tested cytokeratins provided no substantial benefit, but adding CD49f to CK8/18/19 as a selection marker resulted in improved recovery of normal-like cell lines. Combined staining of CK8/18/19 and CD49f after CD146/EpCAM enrichment is likely to further improve CTC detection in breast cancer.
Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. b.mostert@erasmusmc.nl
Bianca
B
Mostert
Jaco
J
Kraan
Anieta M
AM
Sieuwerts
Petra
P
van der Spoel
Joan
J
Bolt-de Vries
Wendy J C
WJ
Prager-van der Smissen
Marcel
M
Smid
Annemieke M
AM
Timmermans
John W M
JW
Martens
Jan W
JW
Gratama
John A
JA
Foekens
Stefan
S
Sleijfer
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D039503:Integrin alpha6; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins