High-definition imaging of circulating tumor cells and associated cellular events in non-small cell lung cancer patients: a longitudinal analysis

作者：Nieva Jorge; Wendel Marco; Luttgen Madelyn S; Marrinucci Dena; Bazhenova Lyudmila; Kolatkar Anand; Santala Roger; Whittenberger Brock; Burke James; Torrey Melissa; Bethel Kelly; Kuhn Peter^*

来源：Physical Biology, 2012, 9(1): 016004.

DOI：10.1088/1478-3975/9/1/016004

Sampling circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood is ideally accomplished using assays that detect high numbers of cells and preserve them for downstream characterization. We sought to evaluate a method using enrichment free fluorescent labeling of CTCs followed by automated digital microscopy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Twenty-eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer and hematogenously seeded metastasis were analyzed with multiple blood draws. We detected CTCs in 68% of analyzed samples and found a propensity for increased CTC detection as the disease progressed in individual patients. CTCs were present at a median concentration of 1.6 CTCs ml(-1) of analyzed blood in the patient population. Higher numbers of detected CTCs were associated with an unfavorable prognosis.

• 出版日期2012-2