title: Circulating tumour cells and circulating free nucleic acid as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in colorectal cancer.
abstract: The detection of circulating tumour cells or circulating free tumour nucleic acids can potentially guide treatment and inform prognosis in colorectal cancer using minimally invasive "liquid biopsies". Current literature supports the notion that high circulating tumour cell counts or presence of tumour nucleic acid correlate with inferior clinical outcomes for patients, but they are not yet part of routine clinical care. Future research evolves around the examination of the molecular phenotype of circulating tumour cells. The key unanswered areas include differentiating between circulating tumour cell presence and their proliferative capacity and dormancy, identifying tumour heterogeneity and understanding the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia. Electronic address: stephanie.lim@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Liverpool Clinical School, University of Western Sydney, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Caixeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kienzle
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Liverpool Clinical School, University of Western Sydney, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tognela
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lumba
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown 2050, Australia; Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: J E J
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rasko
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool 2170, Australia; School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Liverpool Clinical School, University of Western Sydney, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool 2170, Australia; South West Sydney Translational Cancer Research Unit, Liverpool 2170, Australia; Liverpool Clinical School, University of Western Sydney, Liverpool 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Spring
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011379:Prognosis; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: Circulating free DNA; Circulating free RNA; Circulating tumour cells; Colorectal cancer; Personalised cancer therapy