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CTC clusters in cancer progression and metastasis

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Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the blood of cancer patients are regarded as potential metastatic seeds, and their detailed characterization holds great promises for more exact prognosis, better diagnosis and therapy of the metastatic cancer. Circulating tumor cell clusters represent different class of CTCs, with specific properties, including high metastatic potential. In this review, we present current opinions on differences between single CTCs and CTC clusters, their mode of dissemination, methods of detection and clinical importance in various types of cancer.

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Abbreviations

CTC:

Circulating tumor cells

EMT:

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition

MET:

Mesenchymal–epithelial transition

ISET:

Isolation by size of epithelial tumor cells

FMSA:

Flexible micro spring array

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

MBC:

Metastatic breast cancer

MCA:

Microcavity array

CEA:

Carcinoembryonic antigen

CK:

Cytokeratins

CTM:

Circulating tumor microemboli

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor β

EpCAM:

Epithelial adhesion molecule

DDF:

Dean flow fractionation

HER2:

Human epidermal growth factor

mCRPC:

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

DAPI:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

IF:

Immunofluorescence

PFS:

Progression-free survival

OS:

Overall survival

NSCLC:

Non-small cell lung cancer

FU:

Follow-up

ccRCC:

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma

PDAC:

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Science Centre (Grant 2014/14/M/NZ1/00437).

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    1. Department of Molecular and Translational Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781, Warsaw, Poland

      Anna Fabisiewicz & Ewa Grzybowska

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    1. Anna Fabisiewicz
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    Correspondence to Anna Fabisiewicz.

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    Anna Fabisiewicz declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ewa Grzybowska declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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    This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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    Anna Fabisiewicz and Ewa Grzybowska contributed equally to this paper.

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    Fabisiewicz, A., Grzybowska, E. CTC clusters in cancer progression and metastasis. Med Oncol 34, 12 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-016-0875-0

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