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DTCs/CTCs in Breast Cancer: Five Decades Later

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Minimal Residual Disease and Circulating Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 195))

Abstract

Since circulating tumor cells were first reported in 1955, the field has seen major advances in their detection and has established their prognostic impact. Here we review the current evidence for the prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer. We then evaluate the role of CTCs and DTCs in early stage breast cancer. The weight of the evidence supports the role of CTCs and DTCs as prognostic indicators, however their role in therapy prediction remains unclear. Ongoing trials may provide answers and newer detection methods which improve sensitivity and specificity may have greater impact. At this point, the data does not support incorporation into clinical practice for early breast cancer patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Susan Alsamarai & Maysa M. Abu-Khalaf

  2. Seidman Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Lyndsay N. Harris

Authors
  1. Susan Alsamarai
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  2. Maysa M. Abu-Khalaf
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  3. Lyndsay N. Harris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lyndsay N. Harris .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Breast Cancer Translational Res. Lab., Institut Jules Bordet, Boulevard de Waterloo 125, Brussels, 1000, Belgium

    Michail Ignatiadis

  2. , Breast Cancer Translational Res. Lab., Institut Jules Bordet, Boulevard de Waterloo 125, Brussels, 1000, Belgium

    Christos Sotiriou

  3. Zentrum für Experimentelle Medizin, Inst. Tumorbiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany

    Klaus Pantel

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Alsamarai, S., Abu-Khalaf, M.M., Harris, .N. (2012). DTCs/CTCs in Breast Cancer: Five Decades Later. In: Ignatiadis, M., Sotiriou, C., Pantel, K. (eds) Minimal Residual Disease and Circulating Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 195. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28160-0_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28160-0_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-28159-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-28160-0

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