scholarly journals Heterogeneity of Stemlike Circulating Tumor Cells in Invasive Breast Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga E. Savelieva ◽  
Liubov A. Tashireva ◽  
Evgeniya V. Kaigorodova ◽  
Angelina V. Buzenkova ◽  
Rustam Kh. Mukhamedzhanov ◽  
...  

The presence of stem and epithelial–mesenchymal-transition (EMT) features in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) determines their invasiveness, adaptability to the microenvironment, and resistance to proapoptotic signals and chemotherapy. It also allows them to fulfil the role of metastatic “seeds”. We evaluated the heterogeneity of stem CTCs by their CD44, ALDH1, and CD133 expression depending on N-cadherin expression in breast-cancer patients. A total of 38 female patients were selected for this study. CTC phenotypes were determined by flow cytometry before any type of treatment. Multiplex immunofluorescence was used for the evaluation of tumor-cell heterogeneity in primary lesions. In patients who had CD44-CD24- CTCs, a subset of cells with the expression of other stem-cell markers (CD133 and ALDH1) were detected. Expression of CD133 and/or ALDH1 may be associated with expression of N-cadherin: all populations of N-cadherin+ CTCs demonstrate stem features; in the absence of N-cadherin expression, true nonstem (CD44-CD24-CD133-ALDH1-) cells are found. The heterogeneity of stem marker expression in CTCs was observed regardless of N-cadherin expression. In our study, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) receptor expression in CTCs did not depend on stemlike traits, but was instead associated with N-cadherin expression. Subpopulations of tumor cells, detected both in tumors and blood, were identified. Breast cancer was characterized by pronounced interpersonal and intrapersonal heterogeneity of CTCs by the presence and combination of various stem features and N-cadherin expression. To complete the characterization of stemlike features of CTCs, we suggest the simultaneous use of the three stem markers.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Krawczyk ◽  
Franziska Meier-Stiegen ◽  
Malgorzata Banys ◽  
Hans Neubauer ◽  
Eugen Ruckhaeberle ◽  
...  

Evaluation and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have become a major focus of translational cancer research. Presence of CTCs predicts worse clinical outcome in early and metastatic breast cancer. Whether all cells from the primary tumor have potential to disseminate and form subsequent metastasis remains unclear. As part of the metastatic cascade, tumor cells lose their cell-to-cell adhesion and undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in order to enter blood circulation. During EMT epithelial antigens are downregulated; thus, such tumor cells might elude classical epithelial marker-based detection. Several researchers postulated that some CTCs express stem cell-like phenotype; this might lead to chemoresistance and enhanced metastatic potential of such cells. In the present review, we discuss current data on EMT and stem cell markers in CTCs of breast cancer and their clinical significance.


2011 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Raimondi ◽  
Angela Gradilone ◽  
Giuseppe Naso ◽  
Bruno Vincenzi ◽  
Arianna Petracca ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 580-580
Author(s):  
William Strauss ◽  
Paul W. Dempsey ◽  
Jessamine Winer-Jones ◽  
Catherine Bingham ◽  
R. Katherine Alpaugh ◽  
...  

580 Background: The treatment of advanced breast cancer demands systemic therapies that can address disease heterogeneity and the development of treatment resistance without a “real-time” molecular window into disease biology. New technologies have focused on increased capture and molecular analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) including cells undergoing epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). We conducted a pilot experiment to test the efficiency of capture and cytokeratin (CK) detection and the presence of single point variants (SNV) to determine the best utility of scoring alternatives for CTC. Methods: EpCAM expressing CTC were recovered from breast cancer patients using CellSearch (Veridex) and LiquidBiopsy (Cynvenio Biosystems). EpCAM recovery and CK scoring were indexed in spiked samples and in 12 inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patient samples using antibodies against CKs 7, 8 or CKs 1-8, 10, 13-16, 18, 19. Additionally, LiquidBiopsy template was analyzed using an Ampliseq 1.0 panel on the IonTorrent PGM. SNV present in the CTC but not white blood cell (WBC) negative controls were identified and where possible, compared to tissue biopsy SNV analyzed using Foundation One (Foundation Medicine). Results: CTCs were detected using CellSearch 10/12 (83%) (range 0-2502 CTC/7.5ml) and LiquidBiopsy 12/12 (100%) (range 6-2800 CTC/7.5mL). More CK positive events were scored using CKs 1-8, 10, 13-16, 18, 19 than CKs 7, 8 in patient samples. Upon sequencing, shared germline polymorphisms were observed in CTC and WBC. Conversely, 1 or 2 SNV were detected in the Epcam selected population but not WBC controls from 6/12 patients (frequency 1.1%-2.1% with 520-5160x coverage) with SNV observed in TP53, MPL, PIK3ca, MET and IDH1. All but one of the PIK3ca mutations were absent in evaluable tissue biopsy. Conclusions: CTC recovery and scoring are two separate events. Altered CK detection emphasized the need to tailor CTC classification to specific disease settings. Sequence analysis showed one correlated SNV among 6 evaluable comparisons to tissue reflecting variable analysis as well as the biologic disparity of metastatic disease. This pilot demonstrates the feasibility of using CTC for molecular analysis.


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