title: Predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in newly-diagnosed and recurrent ovarian cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs), as detected and enumerated by the Veridex CellSearch system, could predict for clinical outcomes in women with newly diagnosed or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial measurements of CTC s and paired serum CA125 were collected in a series of 78 women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer seen at our institution over a period of 15 months. Clinical data were abstracted from patient medical records. CTCs were detected and enumerated by the CellSearch protocol, and patients were divided into CTC negative (<2 CTCs) or positive (≥2 CTCs) groups. CTC groups were correlated with clinical characteristics and outcomes. A longitudinal analysis of CTC change and CA125 trends was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one CTC was isolated from the peripheral blood of over 80% of the women participating in this study, with a range from 0 to 8. No correlations were observed between CTC numbers and clinical characteristics or outcomes. Although both serum CA125 and CTC number exhibited an overall significant decreasing trend over time, there was no correlation observed between change in CTCs and CA125.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the FDA-approved CellSearch system, CTCs can be isolated from women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer. However, CTC numbers do not significantly correlate with clinical characteristics or patient outcomes. Future studies should focus on phenotypic characterization of CTCs and whether different isolation protocols yield a higher number of CTCs or add prognostic value.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Electronic address: joyce_liu@dfci.harvard.edu.
authors: Joyce F
authors: JF
authors: Liu
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Kindelberger
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Doyle
authors: Alarice
authors: A
authors: Lowe
authors: William T
authors: WT
authors: Barry
authors: Ursula A
authors: UA
authors: Matulonis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids
keywords: Circulating tumor cells; Ovarian cancer