Detection of clustered circulating tumour cells in early breast cancer
Ilona Krol, Fabienne D Schwab, Roberta Carbone, Mathilde Ritter, Sabrina Picocci, Marzia L De Marni, Grazyna Stepien, Gian M Franchi, Andrea Zanardi, Marco D Rissoglio, Alfredo Covelli, Guido Guidi, Daniele Scarinci, Francesc Castro-Giner, Luca Mazzarella, Claudio Doglioni, Francesca Borghi, Paolo Milani, Christian Kurzeder, Walter P Weber, Nicola Aceto, Ilona Krol, Fabienne D Schwab, Roberta Carbone, Mathilde Ritter, Sabrina Picocci, Marzia L De Marni, Grazyna Stepien, Gian M Franchi, Andrea Zanardi, Marco D Rissoglio, Alfredo Covelli, Guido Guidi, Daniele Scarinci, Francesc Castro-Giner, Luca Mazzarella, Claudio Doglioni, Francesca Borghi, Paolo Milani, Christian Kurzeder, Walter P Weber, Nicola Aceto
Abstract
Circulating tumour cell (CTC) clusters have been proposed to be major players in the metastatic spread of breast cancer, particularly during advanced disease stages. Yet, it is unclear whether or not they manifest in early breast cancer, as their occurrence in patients with metastasis-free primary disease has not been thoroughly evaluated. In this study, exploiting nanostructured titanium oxide-coated slides for shear-free CTC identification, we detect clustered CTCs in the curative setting of multiple patients with early breast cancer prior to surgical treatment, highlighting their presence already at early disease stages. These results spotlight an important aspect of metastasis biology and the possibility to intervene with anti-cluster therapeutics already during the early manifestation of breast cancer.
Conflict of interest statement
N.A. is listed as an inventor in patent applications related to circulating tumour cells and is a paid consultant for companies with an interest in liquid biopsy. W.P.W. received research support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals International via the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and honoraria from Genomic Health, Inc., USA. The University of Basel and University Hospital Basel received funding for conferences and meetings from Sandoz, Genomic Health, Medtronic, Novartis Oncology, Pfizer and Eli Lilly. P.M. is founder and shareholder of Tethis S.p.A.. R.C, S.P., M.DeM., G.S., G.M.F., A.Z., M.R., A.C., G.G., D.S., L.M. and C.D. are (or were at the time of manuscript preparation) consultants, employees or directors of Tethis S.p.A. None of the remaining authors have relevant conflict of interest to report.
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Source: PubMed