Low Number of Detectable Circulating Tumor Cells in Non-metastatic Colon Cancer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Low Number of Detectable Circulating Tumor Cells in Non-metastatic Colon Cancer

AU - Thorsteinsson, Morten

AU - Söletormos, György

AU - Jess, Per

PY - 2011/2/1

Y1 - 2011/2/1

N2 - Background: The aim of the present study was to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-metastatic colon cancer and to evaluate whether there is a diurnal variation in the CTC counts. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the correlation between CTCs and TNM stage, other paraclinical variables and prognosis. Patients and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 20 consecutive patients with colon cancer TNM stage I-III at four different perioperative time points. Detection of CTCs was performed using the immunological assay CellSearch®. Results: CTCs were detected in 1 out of 60 preoperative blood samples, resulting in a detection rate of 1 in 20 patients (5%; 95% confidence interval=0.1-25%). None of the postoperative blood samples had CTC levels above the cut-off value (≥2 CTCs/7.5ml blood). Conclusion: The presence of CTCs in non-metastatic colon cancer is rare and barely detectable with the only commercially available assay for detection of CTCs, the CellSearch System.

AB - Background: The aim of the present study was to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-metastatic colon cancer and to evaluate whether there is a diurnal variation in the CTC counts. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the correlation between CTCs and TNM stage, other paraclinical variables and prognosis. Patients and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 20 consecutive patients with colon cancer TNM stage I-III at four different perioperative time points. Detection of CTCs was performed using the immunological assay CellSearch®. Results: CTCs were detected in 1 out of 60 preoperative blood samples, resulting in a detection rate of 1 in 20 patients (5%; 95% confidence interval=0.1-25%). None of the postoperative blood samples had CTC levels above the cut-off value (≥2 CTCs/7.5ml blood). Conclusion: The presence of CTCs in non-metastatic colon cancer is rare and barely detectable with the only commercially available assay for detection of CTCs, the CellSearch System.

U2 - 10.1136/ard.2010.137778

DO - 10.1136/ard.2010.137778

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21378346

SN - 0250-7005

VL - 31

SP - 613

EP - 617

JO - Anticancer Research

JF - Anticancer Research

IS - 2

ER -