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Circulating tumour cell analysis as an early marker for relapse in stage II and III colorectal cancer patients: a pilot study

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Abstract

Introduction

Recent studies have identified both the prognostic and predictive utility of determining the number of circulating tumour cells (CTC) in patients with solid cancers.

Material and methods

In the present pilot study we evaluated the ability of two different methods to isolate CTC in combination with two strategies to enumerate CTC from patients with stages II and III surgically treated colorectal cancer (CRC). First, we used two systems for tumour cell enrichment (differential centrifugation and immunomagnetic beads), combined with two methods to enumerate CTC (real-time PCR and flow cytometry), to determine the most efficient combination. These experiments were performed in a model system using serial dilutions of HT29 tumour cell lines with lymphocytes. Then, CTC analysis using the technical approach selected before was performed in 109 blood samples from 16 stage II and III CRC patients during chemotherapy treatment and follow-up.

Results

Immunomagnetic beads followed by flow cytometry was the most efficient combination (ED=60.53; p=0.5). Two cases out of 16 patients analysed had clinical tumour relapse. In both, we detected a significant increase of CTC five and six months, respectively, before the relapse was clinically evidenced. An increase of CTC was also observed in another case without clinical evidence of relapse. The remaining cases (13) had very few or no detectable CTC and no clinical evidence of relapse (p=0.029).

Conclusions

Changes in CTC numbers during follow-up might predict tumour relapse. Further evaluation of CTC prognostic and predictive value in patients with early CRC is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory Molecular Oncology Group, Elche University Hospital — Anexo II, Planta 3.a, ES-03203, Elche, Alicante, Spain

    Noemi Garrigós, Javier Gallego, Carmen Guillén-Ponce, Patricia Guaraz, Miriam García-Bautista, Adela Castillejo, Alfredo Carrato, Álvaro Rodríguez-Lescure & José L. Soto

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Elche University Hospital, Elche, Alicante, Spain

    Javier Gallego, Carmen Guillén-Ponce & Álvaro Rodríguez-Lescure

  3. Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Alicante, Spain

    Ángeles Gómez-Martínez & Alfredo Carrato

Authors
  1. Noemi Garrigós
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  2. Javier Gallego
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  3. Carmen Guillén-Ponce
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  4. Patricia Guaraz
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  5. Miriam García-Bautista
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  6. Adela Castillejo
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  7. Ángeles Gómez-Martínez
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  8. Alfredo Carrato
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  9. Álvaro Rodríguez-Lescure
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  10. José L. Soto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José L. Soto.

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Garrigós, N., Gallego, J., Guillén-Ponce, C. et al. Circulating tumour cell analysis as an early marker for relapse in stage II and III colorectal cancer patients: a pilot study. Clin Transl Oncol 12, 142–147 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/S12094-010-0479-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/S12094-010-0479-7

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