Circulating tumor cells: the ‘leukemic phase’ of solid cancers

摘要: It is well known that malignant cells circulate in the bloodstream of patients with solid tumors. However, biological significance circulating tumor (CTCs) and clinical relevance their detection are still debated. Besides technical issues regarding CTC-detection methods, discontinuous shedding CTCs from established cancer deposits, genomic instability metastatic inefficiency might underlie conflicting results currently available. Nevertheless, technological advances recent findings prompting researchers to dissect CTC biology further. Here, we review these findings, discuss prospects for identification molecular characterization subset responsible metastasis development. This would provide a formidable tool prognosis evaluation, anticancer-drug development and, ultimately, cancer-therapy personalization.