This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Alix-Panabières, C. Articles by Pantel, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Alix-Panabières, C. Articles by Pantel, K. Related Collections Clinical Research Clinical Research: Imaging, Diagnosis, and Prognosis

Circulating Tumor Cells and Bone Marrow Micrometastasis

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ University Medical Center, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France and ² Institute of Tumor Biology, Center of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Requests for reprints: Klaus Pantel, Institute of Tumor Biology, Center of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Phone: 49-40428033503, Fax: 49-404280353-79; E-mail: pantel{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de.

Sensitive immunocytochemical and molecular assays allow the detection of single circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood and disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in the bone marrow as a common and easily accessible homing organ for cells released by epithelial tumors of various origins. The results obtained thus far have provided direct evidence that tumor cell dissemination starts already early during tumor development and progression. Tumor cells are frequently detected in the blood and bone marrow of cancer patients without clinical or even histopathologic signs of metastasis. The detection of DTC and CTC yields important prognostic information and might help to tailor systemic therapies to the individual needs of a cancer patient. In the present review, we provide a critical review of (a) the current methods used for detection of CTC/DTC and (b) data on the molecular characterization of CTC/DTC with a particular emphasis on tumor dormancy, cancer stem cell theory, and novel targets for biological therapies; and we pinpoint to (c) critical issues that need to be addressed to establish CTC/DTC measurements in clinical practice.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Lu, P. S. Steeg, J. E. Price, S. Krishnamurthy, S. A. Mani, J. Reuben, M. Cristofanilli, G. Dontu, L. Bidaut, V. Valero, et al. Breast Cancer Metastasis: Challenges and Opportunities Cancer Res., June 15, 2009; 69(12): 4951 - 4953. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Okumura, F. Tanaka, K. Yoneda, M. Hashimoto, T. Takuwa, N. Kondo, and S. Hasegawa Circulating Tumor Cells in Pulmonary Venous Blood of Primary Lung Cancer Patients. Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2009; 87(6): 1669 - 1675. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Massard, A. Chauchereau, and K. Fizazi The quest for the 'bony Grail' of detecting circulating tumour cells in patients with prostate cancer Ann. Onc., February 1, 2009; 20(2): 197 - 199. [Full Text] [PDF]