title: Detection and molecular analysis of circulating tumor cells for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential to provide a surrogate for "real-time biopsy" of tumor biological activity. Enumeration and molecular characterization of CTCs in pancreatic cancer could play an important role in diagnosis, predicting the risk for tumor recurrence, and providing novel target therapy biomarkers. CTCs can disseminate into peripheral blood in the preinvasive and early stages of pancreatic cancer. In view of these facts, we propose that identification and molecular analysis of the malignant characteristics of CTCs may serve as a "liquid biopsy" in pancreatic cancer for early diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
authors.forename: Chuanli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chongxu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Guangfu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Daxin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daorong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor