title: Circulating tumor cells and epithelial, mesenchymal and stemness markers: characterization of cell subpopulations.
abstract: Until now detection and numeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were essentially used as a prognostic factor in cancer progression. To extend the role of these kinds of analysis, it seems necessary to improve analytical methods related to isolation and characterization of CTCs. Discrepancies between published results corroborates this requirement. In this review we suggest a combination of markers able to reach the goal. Moreover to improve the clinical utility of CTC analysis, particularly in the therapeutic follow up of the disease, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) level of a global CTC population should be studied.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Guislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barriere
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fici
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallerani
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Wainer
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zoli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigaud
keywords: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs); epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT); stemness