Abstract
The availability of sensitive methods has allowed the detailed study of circulating tumor cells only recently. Evolving evidence support the
prognostic and predictive role of these cells in patients affected by
several solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. Ongoing studies are
aimed at confirming that the molecular characterization of circulating
tumor cells in peripheral blood and in bone marrow of patients is a
powerful tool to improve the patient risk-stratification, to monitor
activity of the drugs, to develop more appropriate targeted therapies
and tailored treatments. In parallel, results from these correlative
studies promise to gain a better biological understanding of the
metastatic process. The clinical utility of the detection of circulating
tumor cells in patients affected by colorectal cancer is still hampered
by a number of specific hurdles. Improvement in sensitivity and
specificity of the available methods of detection, standardization of
these methods and functional characterization of circulating tumor cells
in well designed and statistically well powered studies are the key
steps to reach these ambitious objectives in colorectal cancer patients
as well. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lingua originale | Inglese |
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pagine (da-a) | 759-772 |
Numero di pagine | 14 |
Rivista | Cancer Treatment Reviews |
Volume | 39 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2013 |
Keywords
- Circulating tumor cells
- Colorectal cancer
- Predictive factor
- Prognostic factor