Low Number of Detectable Circulating Tumor Cells in Non-metastatic Colon Cancer
- 1Department of Surgery, Roskilde Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- 2Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hillerœd Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-3400 Hilleroed, Denmark
- Correspondence to: Morten Thorsteinsson, MD, Department of Surgery, Roskilde Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Koegevej 7-13, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, Tel: +45 61276425, Fax: +45 47323009, e-mail: moth{at}regionsjaelland.dk
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present study was to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-metastatic colon cancer and to evaluate whether there is a diurnal variation in the CTC counts. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the correlation between CTCs and TNM stage, other paraclinical variables and prognosis. Patients and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 20 consecutive patients with colon cancer TNM stage I-III at four different perioperative time points. Detection of CTCs was performed using the immunological assay CellSearch®. Results: CTCs were detected in 1 out of 60 preoperative blood samples, resulting in a detection rate of 1 in 20 patients (5%; 95% confidence interval=0.1-25%). None of the postoperative blood samples had CTC levels above the cut-off value (≥2 CTCs/7.5ml blood). Conclusion: The presence of CTCs in non-metastatic colon cancer is rare and barely detectable with the only commercially available assay for detection of CTCs, the CellSearch System.
- Received November 23, 2010.
- Revision received January 25, 2011.
- Accepted January 25, 2011.
- Copyright© 2011 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved
