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Potdar. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:1-5 Journal of
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2016.72
Cancer Metastasis and Treatment

www.jcmtjournal.com
Topic: Circulating Tumor Cells: Diagnostics and Clinical Applications Open Access

Circulating tumor cells: hope to diagnose

and treat metastatic cancer

Pravin D. Potdar

Department of Molecular Medicine and Biology, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai 400026, India.
Correspondence to: Dr. Pravin D. Potdar, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biology, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai 400026,
India. E-mail: ppotdar@jaslokhospital.net; ppravin012@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Potdar PD. Circulating tumor cells: hope to diagnose and treat metastatic cancer. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2017;3:1-5.
Article history: Received: 19-12-2016 Accepted: 22-12-2016 Published: 12-01-2017

Dr. Pravin D. Potdar’s present interest is to study molecular profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTC), circulating
tumor DNA, cancer associated fibroblasts and cancer stem cells involved in metastatic process of cancers,
and to see how this process can be reverted back to normal by using innovated technologies which include
nanotechnology and nanomedicine.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CIRCULATING bloodstream, and their heterogeneity affecting their
TUMOR CELLS cell surface markers in isolation. However, tissue
biopsies have limited effectiveness as a diagnostic tool
In 1869, Thomas Ashworth, an Australian physician, because they are invasive and not suited to repeated
for the first time observed the cells which are sampling; biopsies also cannot monitor the treatment
morphologically identical to cancer cells in the blood of metastatic cancer patients during therapy. Analysis
circulation of metastatic cancer patients. Today, of CTCs analysis is non-invasive and can be carried
these cells are known as circulating tumor cells out easily in combination with available liquid biopsies
(CTCs). Since most cancer deaths are associated such as blood and body fluids of metastatic cancer
[1]
with metastases, there is a need to study the exact patients. Multiple samples can also be made available
mechanism of this cancer spread.
to monitor treatment protocols of metastatic cancer
Until recently, primary biopsy has been the basis of patients during therapy. In addition, CTCs analysis
cancer diagnosis, as it has been difficult to develop allows clinicians to monitor disease progression over
a research or diagnostic test based on Thomas a period of time and provide appropriate treatment
Ashworth’s finding. The major reason for this is modification in a patient’s therapy, thus improving the
the extremely small number (6-10) of CTCs in the patient’s prognosis and quality of life.

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