A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits

Background: Most breast cancer-related deaths are caused by distant metastases and drug resistance. It is important to find appropriate biomarkers to monitor the disease and to predict patient responses after treatment early and accurately. Many studies have found that clustered circulating tumor ce...

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Main Authors: Hung-Chih Lai, Hsing-Hua Huang, Yun-Jie Hao, Hsin-Ling Lee, Chiao-Chan Wang, Thai-Yen Ling, Jen-Kuei Wu, Fan-Gang Tseng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Current Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/9/421
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author Hung-Chih Lai
Hsing-Hua Huang
Yun-Jie Hao
Hsin-Ling Lee
Chiao-Chan Wang
Thai-Yen Ling
Jen-Kuei Wu
Fan-Gang Tseng
author_facet Hung-Chih Lai
Hsing-Hua Huang
Yun-Jie Hao
Hsin-Ling Lee
Chiao-Chan Wang
Thai-Yen Ling
Jen-Kuei Wu
Fan-Gang Tseng
author_sort Hung-Chih Lai
collection DOAJ
description Background: Most breast cancer-related deaths are caused by distant metastases and drug resistance. It is important to find appropriate biomarkers to monitor the disease and to predict patient responses after treatment early and accurately. Many studies have found that clustered circulating tumor cells, with more correlations with metastatic cancer and poor survival of patients than individual ones, are promising biomarkers. Methods: Eighty samples from eleven patients with breast cancer during follow-up visits were examined. By using a microfluidic chip and imaging system, the number of circulating tumor cells and microemboli (CTC/CTM) were counted to assess the distribution in stratified patients and the potential in predicting the disease condition of patients after treatments during follow-up visits. Specific components and subtypes of CTM were also preliminarily investigated. Results: Compared to CTC, CTM displayed a distinguishable distribution in stratified patients, having a better AUC value, in predicting the disease progression of breast cancer patients during follow-up visits in this study. Four subtypes were categorized from the identified CTM by considering different components. In combination with CEA and CA153, enumerated CTC and CTM from individual patients were applied to monitor the disease condition and patient response to the therapy during follow-up visits. Conclusions: The CTM and its subtypes are promising biomarkers and valuable tools for studying cancer metastasis and longitudinally monitoring cancer patients during follow-up visits.
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spelling doaj-art-7b9c3edd8a1f444981979fcd93b63c2a2025-08-20T01:55:28ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292024-09-013195677569310.3390/curroncol31090421A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up VisitsHung-Chih Lai0Hsing-Hua Huang1Yun-Jie Hao2Hsin-Ling Lee3Chiao-Chan Wang4Thai-Yen Ling5Jen-Kuei Wu6Fan-Gang Tseng7Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 11101, TaiwanDivision of Breast Surgery Clinic, En Chu Kong Hospital, No. 258, Zhongshan Rd., Sanxia Dist., New Taipei City 237, TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University, No. 33, Linsen S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100025, TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, TaiwanDepartment of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Rd., Hsinchu 30013, TaiwanBackground: Most breast cancer-related deaths are caused by distant metastases and drug resistance. It is important to find appropriate biomarkers to monitor the disease and to predict patient responses after treatment early and accurately. Many studies have found that clustered circulating tumor cells, with more correlations with metastatic cancer and poor survival of patients than individual ones, are promising biomarkers. Methods: Eighty samples from eleven patients with breast cancer during follow-up visits were examined. By using a microfluidic chip and imaging system, the number of circulating tumor cells and microemboli (CTC/CTM) were counted to assess the distribution in stratified patients and the potential in predicting the disease condition of patients after treatments during follow-up visits. Specific components and subtypes of CTM were also preliminarily investigated. Results: Compared to CTC, CTM displayed a distinguishable distribution in stratified patients, having a better AUC value, in predicting the disease progression of breast cancer patients during follow-up visits in this study. Four subtypes were categorized from the identified CTM by considering different components. In combination with CEA and CA153, enumerated CTC and CTM from individual patients were applied to monitor the disease condition and patient response to the therapy during follow-up visits. Conclusions: The CTM and its subtypes are promising biomarkers and valuable tools for studying cancer metastasis and longitudinally monitoring cancer patients during follow-up visits.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/9/421breast cancercirculating tumor cells (CTC)circulating tumor microemboli (CTM)liquid biopsy biomarkertumor immune microenvironment
spellingShingle Hung-Chih Lai
Hsing-Hua Huang
Yun-Jie Hao
Hsin-Ling Lee
Chiao-Chan Wang
Thai-Yen Ling
Jen-Kuei Wu
Fan-Gang Tseng
A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
Current Oncology
breast cancer
circulating tumor cells (CTC)
circulating tumor microemboli (CTM)
liquid biopsy biomarker
tumor immune microenvironment
title A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
title_full A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
title_fullStr A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
title_full_unstemmed A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
title_short A Preliminary Analysis of Circulating Tumor Microemboli from Breast Cancer Patients during Follow-Up Visits
title_sort preliminary analysis of circulating tumor microemboli from breast cancer patients during follow up visits
topic breast cancer
circulating tumor cells (CTC)
circulating tumor microemboli (CTM)
liquid biopsy biomarker
tumor immune microenvironment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/9/421
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