disseminated tumor cells
Sunday 5 January 2014
The enumeration and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow may provide important prognostic information and might help to monitor efficacy of therapy.
Since current assays cannot distinguish between apoptotic and viable DTCs/CTCs, it is now possible to apply a novel ELISPOT assay (designated ‘EPISPOT’) that detects proteins secreted/released/shed from single epithelial cancer cells.
Prognostic Relevance of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells Detected by EPISPOT in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients. Ramirez JM, Fehm T, Orsini M, Cayrefourcq L, Maudelonde T, Pantel K, Alix-Panabières C. Clin Chem. 2014 Jan;60(1):214-21. doi : 10.1373/clinchem.2013.215079 PMID: 24255082