Detecting circulating tumor cells: Current challenges and new trends

Bin Hong, Youli Zu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

312 Scopus citations

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood stream play a critical role in establishing metastases. The clinical value of CTCs as a biomarker for early cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, stratification, and pharmacodynamics have been widely explored in recent years. However, the clinical utility of current CTC tests is limited mainly due to methodological constraints. In this review, the pros and cons of the reported CTC assays are comprehensively discussed. In addition, the potential of tumor cell-derived materials as new targets for CTC detection, including circulating tumor microemboli, cell fragments, and circulating DNA, is evaluated. Finally, emerging approaches for CTC detection, including telomerase-based or aptamer-based assays and cell functional analysis, are also assessed. Expectantly, a thorough review of the current knowledge and technology of CTC detection will assist the scientific community in the development of more efficient CTC assay systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)377-394
Number of pages18
JournalTheranostics
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • CTC: circulating tumor cell
  • CTDNA: circulating tumor DNA
  • CTM: Circulating tumor microemboli
  • CTMat: circulating tumor materials
  • POCT: point-of-care test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)

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