Molecular analysis of circulating tumors cells: Biomarkers beyond enumeration

• Published in: Advanced drug delivery reviews Vol. 125; pp. 122 - 131
• Main Authors: Hwang, William L., Pleskow, Haley M., Miyamoto, David T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cancer; Circulating tumor cells; Early cancer detection; Humans; Liquid biopsy; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasms - therapy; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - metabolism; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - pathology; Precision therapy; Predictive biomarker; Prognostic biomarker; Tumor heterogeneity; Early cancer detection; Tumor heterogeneity; Liquid biopsy; Precision therapy; Circulating tumor cells; Predictive biomarker; Cancer; Prognostic biomarker
• ISSN: 0169-409X; 1872-8294
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.01.003

Advances in our molecular understanding of cancer biology have paved the way to an expanding compendium of molecularly-targeted therapies, accompanied by the urgent need for biomarkers that enable the precise selection of the most appropriate therapies for individual cancer patients. Circulating biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are poised to fill this need, since they are “liquid biopsies” that can be performed non-invasively and serially, and may capture the spectrum of spatial and temporal tumor heterogeneity better than conventional tissue biopsies. Increasing evidence suggests that moving beyond the enumeration of CTCs towards more sophisticated molecular analyses can provide actionable data that may predict and potentially improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we discuss the potential of molecular CTC analyses to serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers to guide cancer therapy and early cancer detection. As technologies to capture and analyze CTCs continue to increase in sophistication, we anticipate that the potential clinical applications of CTCs will grow exponentially in the coming years. [Display omitted]