title: Circulating Cancer-Associated Macrophage-Like Cells Differentiate Malignant Breast Cancer and Benign Breast Conditions.
abstract: Blood-based testing can be used as a noninvasive method to recover and analyze circulating tumor-derived cells for clinical use. Circulating cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAML) are specialized myeloid cells found in peripheral blood and associated with the presence of solid malignancies. We measured CAMLs prospectively in peripheral blood to ascertain their prevalence, specificity, and sensitivity in relation to breast disease status at clinical presentation.
  
  
  
  We report on two related but separate studies: 1) CellSieve microfilters were used to isolate CAMLs from blood samples of patients with known malignant disease (n = 41). Prevalence and specificity was compared against healthy volunteers (n = 16). 2) A follow-up double-blind pilot study was conducted on women (n = 41) undergoing core-needle biopsy to diagnose suspicious breast masses.
  
  
  
  CAMLs were found in 93% of known malignant patients (n = 38/41), averaging 19.4 cells per sample, but none in the healthy controls. In subjects undergoing core biopsy for initial diagnosis, CAMLs were found in 88% of subjects with invasive carcinoma (n = 15/17) and 26% with benign breast conditions (n = 5/19).
  
  
  
  These preliminary pilot studies suggest that the presence of CAMLs may differentiate patients with malignant disease, benign breast conditions, and healthy individuals.
  
  
  
  We supply evidence that this previously unidentified circulating stromal cell may have utility as a screening tool to detect breast cancer in various malignancies, irrespective of disease stage. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(7); 1037-42. ©2016 AACR.
authors.affiliation: Creatv MicroTech, Inc., Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. dan@creatvmicrotech.com.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Diane K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R Katherine
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Alpaugh
authors.affiliation: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cristofanilli
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Stuart S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida.
authors.forename: Saranya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chumsri
authors.affiliation: Creatv MicroTech, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Cha-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017154:Stromal Cells
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor