Circulating Tumor Cells With Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition Phenotypes Associated With Inferior Outcomes in Primary Breast Cancer. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND/AIM: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cancer cells with different clinical and biological value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CTCs with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in primary breast cancer (PBC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 427 primary breast cancer patients. RNA extracted from CD45-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) was evaluated for the expression of EMT transcription factors (TWIST1, SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1) by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: In total, CTC EMT was detected in 77 (18.0%) patients. Patients without detectable CTC EMT in peripheral blood had significantly longer disease-free survival than patients with detectable CTC EMT. The prognostic value of CTC EMT was demonstrated in all subgroups of patients. CONCLUSION: CTCs with an EMT phenotype have a prognostic value in primary breast cancer.

publication date

  • April 1, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85064480384

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.21873/anticanres.13290

PubMed ID

  • 30952723

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 39

issue

  • 4