title: Circulating tumor cells: personalized medicine in interventional oncology?
abstract: Innovative technologic advancements have expanded the ability of interventional radiologists to capture and visualize directly tumor cells that have intravasated into the circulation. The detection of these circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is revolutionizing the understanding of the pathogenesis of metastasis and is paving the way for exquisitely sensitive techniques to detect malignancy, monitor recurrence, and prognosticate outcomes. In this review, the prevailing theories on the pathobiology of metastasis and the tools that have been developed to investigate CTCs are summarized. The tremendous impact CTCs are likely to have in oncology is discussed, with particular emphasis on their relevance to interventional oncology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging, Division of Vascular Imaging and Intervention, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, 290 Gray/Bigelow, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Rahul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Deipolyi
authors.forename: Rahmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oklu
mesh_terms: D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000639:trends*