Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells in Prostate Cancer Patients at PSA Recurrence and Review of the Literature.
BACKGROUND
Circulating tumor cells have been described in prostate cancer patients at diagnosis and in the metastatic phase but little is known on their role at biochemical PSA recurrence.


METHODS
Patients radically cured with either prostatectomy or radiotherapy were sequentially included at PSA recurrence. The presence of CTCs was evaluated by the CellSearch system.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients were accrued at PSA recurrence. Median PSA at recurrence was 7.2 ng/ml (range=3.86-51.0 ng/ml). The median time to PSA progression was 4.66 years (range=0.1-16 years). CTCs were detected in one patient (3%) with low numbers (1 CTC/7.5 ml).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients radically cured for prostate cancer at biochemical recurrence, CTCs are detected at very low levels in a minority of patients. Further studies are required to investigate alternative methods of CTC detection and the possible role of the bone marrow pre-metastatic niche at biochemical recurrence.
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy salvatore.grisanti@tin.it.
Salvatore
S
Grisanti
Department of Urology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Antonelli
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Michela
M
Buglione
Laboratory for Stem Cells Manipulation and Cryopreservation, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Camillo
C
Almici
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Chiara
C
Foroni
Department of Urology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Mario
M
Sodano
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Luca
L
Triggiani
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Diana
D
Greco
Department of Urology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Carlotta
C
Palumbo
Laboratory for Stem Cells Manipulation and Cryopreservation, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Mirella
M
Marini
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Stefano M
SM
Magrini
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Alfredo
A
Berruti
Department of Urology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Claudio
C
Simeone
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
Circulating tumor cells; PSA; biochemical recurrence; progression; prostate cancer