Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells: Advances and Critical Concerns

Overview

Journal Oncol Lett

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Apr 14

PMID 33850563

Citations 18

Authors

Xiuxiu Hu

Xiaojuan Zang

Yanguan Lv

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death and the major challenge in cancer treatment. Cancer cells in circulation are termed circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Primary tumor metastasis is likely due to CTCs released into the bloodstream. These CTCs extravasate and form fatal metastases in different organs. Analyses of CTCs are clarifying the biological understanding of metastatic cancers. These data are also helpful to monitor disease progression and to inform the development of personalized cancer treatment-based liquid biopsy. However, CTCs are a rare cell population with 1-10 CTCs per ml and are difficult to isolate from blood. Numerous approaches to detect CTCs have been developed based on the physical and biological properties of the cells. The present review summarizes the progress made in detecting CTCs.

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