Detection and characterization of putative metastatic precursor cells in cancer patients

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 537 - 539
• Main Authors: Alix-Panabières, Catherine, Vendrell, Jean-Pierre, Pellé, Olivier, Rebillard, Xavier, Riethdorf, Sabine, Müller, Volkmar, Fabbro, Michel, Pantel, Klaus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Antigens, Neoplasm - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Bone Marrow - metabolism; Bone Marrow - pathology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell growth; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratin-19 - metabolism; Male; Mucin-1; Mucins - metabolism; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial - metabolism; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial - secondary; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - metabolism; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - pathology; Prostate cancer; Prostate-Specific Antigen - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Proteins; Stem cells
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2006.079509

SCs for the circulating rumor antigens mucin 1 (MUC1) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were detected in the majority of patiente with metastatic breast (100%) and prostate (83.3%) cancer, respectively, whereas such SCs were not observed in healthy controls or in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (2). Consistent with our previous findings, the EPISPOT assay revealed viable DTC in the peripheral blood of 65% of prostate cancer patients, even in the absence of overt metastases (stage M^sub 0^) (2), but the number of PSA-SCs in localized prostate cancer patients (median, 9; range, 2-197) was significantly lower (P = 0.01) than in patients with metastatic cancer (median, 29; range, 1-684), a finding that is in accordance with the different disease stages and total tumor burdens.