Detecting Tumor Cells in Blood of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Engel H, Kleespies C, Friedrich J, Breidenbach M, Kallenborn A, Schöndorf T, Kolhagen H, Mallmann P
Primary Institution: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Cologne, Germany; Department of Haematology and Oncology, Medical School Hannover
Hypothesis
The study investigates the presence and frequency of tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with breast or ovarian cancer.
Conclusion
The study found circulating tumor cells in 35 out of 48 patients, indicating that this detection method may help monitor disease progression and treatment response.
Supporting Evidence
- Circulating tumor cells were detected in 35 out of 48 cases.
- Patients with primary carcinoma and no solid metastases had fewer chromosomal aberrations.
- The detection technique can identify one tumor cell among 1,000,000 normal cells.
Takeaway
Doctors can find tiny cancer cells in the blood of some breast and ovarian cancer patients, which might help them understand how the disease is doing and if treatment is working.
Methodology
The study used magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyze blood samples.
Participant Demographics
35 patients with breast cancer, 12 with ovarian tumors, and 1 with uterine sarcoma; 25 had primary disease and 23 had relapsed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.035; 0.038
Statistical Significance
p=0.035; p=0.038
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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