Biomarkers characterization of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer patients
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
Springer Nature
Materia
Breast cancer Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Estrogen receptor Progesterone receptor Circulating tumor cells
Date
2012-05-03Referencia bibliográfica
Nadal, R., Fernandez, A., Sanchez-Rovira, P. et al. Biomarkers characterization of circulating tumour cells in breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res 14, R71 (2012). [https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr3180]
Sponsorship
RETICS, FEDER RD07/0020/2004; European Union (EU) PI08/0334; Consejeria de Salud, Andalusian Regional Government, SpainAbstract
Introduction: Increasing evidence supports the view that the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predicts
outcomes of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients. CTCs differ genetically from the primary tumor and may
contribute to variations in prognosis and response to therapy. As we start to understand more about the biology
of CTCs, we can begin to address how best to treat this form of disease.
Methods: Ninety-eight nonmetastatic breast cancer patients were included in this study. CTCs were isolated by
immunomagnetic techniques using magnetic beads labelled with a multi-CK-specific antibody (CK3-11D5) and CTC
detection through immunocytochemical methods. Estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR) were evaluated by immunofluorescence experiments and HER2 and TOP2A by fluorescence
in situ hybridization. We aimed to characterize this set of biomarkers in CTCs and correlate it with clinicalpathological characteristics.
Results: Baseline detection rate was 46.9% ≥ 1 CTC/30 ml threshold. CTC-positive cells were more frequent in
HER2-negative tumors (p = 0.046). In patients younger than 50 years old, HER2-amplified and G1-G2 tumors had a
higher possibility of being nondetectable CTCs. Heterogeneous expression of hormonal receptors (HRs) in samples
from the same patients was found. Discordances between HR expression, HER2 and TOP2A status in CTCs and their
primary tumor were found in the sequential blood samples. Less that 35% of patients switched their CTC status
after receiving chemotherapy. EGFR-positive CTCs were associated with Luminal tumors (p = 0.03).
Conclusions: This is the largest exploratory CTC biomarker analysis in nonmetastatic BC patients. Our study
suggests that CTC biomarkers profiles might be useful as a surrogate marker for therapeutic selection and
monitoring since heterogeneity of the biomarker distribution in CTCs and the lack of correlation with the primary
tumor biomarker status were found. Further exploration of the association between EGFR-positive CTCs and
Luminal tumors is warranted.