Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal liquid biopsy (LB) biomarkers for breast cancer (BC), offering non‐invasive insights into tumor progression and metastasis. Despite their clinical promise, CTC detection remains technically challenging due to their extreme rarity in peri...

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Main Authors: Saiying Ma, Xiaojia Wang, Peter Ping Lin, Lei Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70902
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author Saiying Ma
Xiaojia Wang
Peter Ping Lin
Lei Lei
author_facet Saiying Ma
Xiaojia Wang
Peter Ping Lin
Lei Lei
author_sort Saiying Ma
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal liquid biopsy (LB) biomarkers for breast cancer (BC), offering non‐invasive insights into tumor progression and metastasis. Despite their clinical promise, CTC detection remains technically challenging due to their extreme rarity in peripheral blood. Methods This review systematically evaluates CTC detection methodologies, including immunoaffinity‐based approaches and biophysical techniques, which exhibit inherent trade‐offs in sensitivity, specificity, and compatibility with downstream analyses. Furthermore, post‐isolation molecular characterization methods spanning genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses are also critically assessed. Key Findings CTC molecular profiling holds significant clinical relevance, enabling early diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and real‐time monitoring of therapeutic response. Baseline CTC counts or quantitative/phenotypic changes during treatment inform therapeutic decision‐making, predict drug resistance, and correlate with recurrence risk and metastatic progression. Conclusion Multimodal analysis integrating CTC morphology, surface markers, and molecular alterations advances precision therapy. However, standardization of detection platforms and clinical validation of CTC‐guided protocols remain essential.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-7634
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series Cancer Medicine
spelling doaj-art-4ee0a4a335e2404abb7707df5c52385c2025-08-20T03:46:58ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-06-011411n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70902Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast CancerSaiying Ma0Xiaojia Wang1Peter Ping Lin2Lei Lei3Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Hangzhou ChinaZhejiang Cancer Hospital Hangzhou ChinaCytelligen San Diego California USAZhejiang Cancer Hospital Hangzhou ChinaABSTRACT Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal liquid biopsy (LB) biomarkers for breast cancer (BC), offering non‐invasive insights into tumor progression and metastasis. Despite their clinical promise, CTC detection remains technically challenging due to their extreme rarity in peripheral blood. Methods This review systematically evaluates CTC detection methodologies, including immunoaffinity‐based approaches and biophysical techniques, which exhibit inherent trade‐offs in sensitivity, specificity, and compatibility with downstream analyses. Furthermore, post‐isolation molecular characterization methods spanning genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses are also critically assessed. Key Findings CTC molecular profiling holds significant clinical relevance, enabling early diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and real‐time monitoring of therapeutic response. Baseline CTC counts or quantitative/phenotypic changes during treatment inform therapeutic decision‐making, predict drug resistance, and correlate with recurrence risk and metastatic progression. Conclusion Multimodal analysis integrating CTC morphology, surface markers, and molecular alterations advances precision therapy. However, standardization of detection platforms and clinical validation of CTC‐guided protocols remain essential.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70902breast cancercirculating tumor cellcirculating tumor endothelial celldetecting technologyliquid biopsy
spellingShingle Saiying Ma
Xiaojia Wang
Peter Ping Lin
Lei Lei
Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
Cancer Medicine
breast cancer
circulating tumor cell
circulating tumor endothelial cell
detecting technology
liquid biopsy
title Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
title_full Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
title_fullStr Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
title_short Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for Therapeutic and Prognostic Roles in Breast Cancer
title_sort circulating tumor cell detection for therapeutic and prognostic roles in breast cancer
topic breast cancer
circulating tumor cell
circulating tumor endothelial cell
detecting technology
liquid biopsy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70902
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AT xiaojiawang circulatingtumorcelldetectionfortherapeuticandprognosticrolesinbreastcancer
AT peterpinglin circulatingtumorcelldetectionfortherapeuticandprognosticrolesinbreastcancer
AT leilei circulatingtumorcelldetectionfortherapeuticandprognosticrolesinbreastcancer