title: Circulating Tumor Cells.
abstract: Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) are shed from primary or secondary tumors. Prior studies have demonstrated that enumeration of CTC is a robust independent prognostic factor of progression free and overall survival in patients with early and metastatic breast cancer. CTC, as well as other circulating tumor markers, have the appealing advantages over tissue biopsy of (1) ease of collection, (2) serial evaluation, and (3) interrogation of the entire tumor burden instead of just a limited part of the tumor. Advances have been recently made in phenotyping and genotyping of CTC, which should provide insights into the predictive role of CTC for sensitivity or resistance to therapies. In addition, CTC phenotypic marker changes during the course of treatment may serve as pharmacodynamic monitoring tools. Therefore, CTC may be considered "liquid biopsies," providing prognostic and predictive clinical information as well as additional understanding of tumor heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Health and Hospital System, 6312 Cancer Center University of Michigan, 1500 Medical Center Drive, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Health and Hospital System, 6312 Cancer Center University of Michigan, 1500 Medical Center Drive, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. hayesdf@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Breast cancer; Characterization; Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC); Cluster; Enumeration; Prediction; Prognosis