Emerging Technologies for the Detection of Cancer Micrometastasis

• Published in: Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment Vol. 21; p. 15330338221100355
• Main Authors: Mao, Xuqing, Mei, Ruyi, Yu, Shuxian, Shou, Lan, Zhang, Wenzheng, Li, Keshuai, Qiu, Zejing, Xie, Tian, Sui, Xinbing
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 2022; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer therapies; Humans; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology; Metastasis; Neoplasm Micrometastasis - diagnosis; Neoplasm Micrometastasis - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Patients; Prognosis; Review; Tumors; micrometastasis; surface-enhanced Raman scattering; tumor; artificial intelligence; liquid biopsy
• ISSN: 1533-0346; 1533-0338; 1533-0338
• DOI: 10.1177/15330338221100355

The most efficient way to treat tumors is through surgery. However, many cancer patients have a poor prognosis even when they undergo radical excision at an early stage. Micrometastasis is one of the most critical factors that induced this situation. Undetected micrometastasis can lead to the failure of initial treatment. Therefore, preoperative and intraoperative detection of micrometastasis could have a significant clinical influence on the prognosis and optimal therapy for cancer patients. Additionally, to achieve this goal, researchers have aimed to create more effective detection technologies. Herein, we classify the currently reported micrometastasis detection technologies, introduce some representative samples for each technology, including the limitations, and provide future directions to overcome the limitations.