A Conduit to Metastasis: Circulating Tumor Cell Biology

Overview

Journal Genes Dev

Specialty Molecular Biology

Date 2017 Oct 21

PMID 29051388

Citations 234

Authors

Douglas S Micalizzi

Shyamala Maheswaran

Daniel A Haber

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Advances in the enrichment and analysis of rare cells from the bloodstream have allowed for detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with cancer. The analysis of CTCs has provided significant insight into the metastatic process. Studies on the biology of CTCs have begun to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of CTC generation, intravasation, survival, interactions with components of the blood, extravasation, and colonization of distant organs. Additionally, the study of CTCs has exposed dramatic intrapatient and interpatient heterogeneity and their evolution over time. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of CTC biology and the potential clinical implications.

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