This article is part of the supplement: The Scientific Basis of Breast Cancer
Review
Micrometastatic spread in breast cancer: detection, molecular characterization and clinical relevance
-
* Corresponding author: Klaus Pantel pantel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
2 Department of Gynecology, University Breast Center, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
3 University Medical Center, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier 34295, France
4 Institute of Tumor Biology, Center of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
Breast Cancer Research 2008, 10(Suppl 1):S1 doi:10.1186/bcr1869
Published: 9 April 2008Abstract
Immunocytochemical or molecular assays allow the detection of single disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow (BM) or the peripheral blood in 10% to 60% of breast cancer patients without signs of metastasis. Results from recently reported studies suggest that circulating tumor cell (CTC) levels may serve as a prognostic marker and be used for early assessment of therapeutic response in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In early stage breast cancer, however, the impact of CTCs is less well established than that of DTCs in BM, where several clinical studies demonstrated that such cells are an independent prognostic factor at primary diagnosis. The characterization of DTCs/CTCs has already shed new light on the complex process underlying early tumor cell dissemination and metastatic progression in cancer patients. Characterization of DTCs should help to identify novel targets for biological therapies aimed to prevent metastatic relapse. In addition, understanding tumor 'dormancy' and identifying metastatic stem cells might result in the development of new therapeutic concepts.