Molecular detection of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in circulating tumor cells from pancreatic cancer patients: Potential role in clinical practice

ABSTRACT Background: Metastasis is common in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and the presence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in circulating tumor cells may suggest worse prognosis. Aim: To correlate the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with a locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic tumor and the protein expression involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CTCs with clinical characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Method: This was a prospective study conducted using peripheral blood samples collected at three different times. CTCs were quantified by the ISET test and analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Proteins involved in EMT (vimentin, TGFß-RI and MMP2) were analyzed in all CTCs. Results: Twenty-one patients were included. Median CTCs detected were 22, 20 and 8 CTCs/8 ml blood at baseline, first and second follow-up, respectively. No statistically significant correlation was found in correlating the number of CTCs and the evaluated clinical characteristics, PFS, or OS. There was no difference in PFS and OS among the EMT markers in the groups with and without markers. Conclusion: CTC analysis was not relevant in this sample for comparing clinical findings, PFS and OS in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, marker analysis in CTCs could be useful for the MMP-2 and/or TGFß-RI expression, as observed by the separate PFS curve.

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Abstract P2-01-12: Circulating tumor cells and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in primary breast cancer patients.

10.1158/0008-5472.sabcs12-p2-01-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

M Mego ◽

M Karaba ◽

G Minarik ◽

J Benca ◽

T Sedlackova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Circulating Tumor Cells ◽

Primary Breast Cancer ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

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Spatial heterogeneity in epithelial to mesenchymal transition properties of circulating tumor cells associated with distant recurrence in pancreatic cancer patients

Annals of Translational Medicine ◽

10.21037/atm-20-782 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 676-676 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiu Dong ◽

Yongsu Ma ◽

Xudong Zhao ◽

Xiaodong Tian ◽

Yulin Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Spatial Heterogeneity ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Circulating Tumor Cells ◽

Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Distant Recurrence ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

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Circulating Tumor Cells Expressing Krüppel-Like Factor 8 and Vimentin as Predictors of Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/10732748211027163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 107327482110271

Author(s):

Peng Zhu ◽

Hui-Ying Liu ◽

Fu-Chen Liu ◽

Fang-Ming Gu ◽

Sheng-Xian Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Circulating Tumor Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Poor Prognosis ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Immunomagnetic Separation ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype in peripheral blood may be a useful marker of carcinomas with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of CTCs expressing Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) and vimentin in pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods: CTCs were isolated by immunomagnetic separation from the peripheral blood of 40 PC patients before undergoing surgical resection. Immunocytochemistry was performed to identify KLF8+ and vimentin+ CTCs. The associations between CTCs and time to recurrence (TTR), clinicopathologic factors, and survival were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed to identify risk factors. Results: Patients with CTCs ( n = 30) had a higher relapse rate compared to those without ( n = 10) (70.0% vs 20.0%; P < 0.01). The proportion of KLF8+/vimentin+ CTCs to total CTCs was inversely related to TTR ( r = −0.646; P < 0.01); TTR was reduced in patients with > 50% of CTCs identified as KLF8+/vimentin+ ( P < 0.01). Independent risk factors for recurrence were perineural invasion and > 50% KLF8+/vimentin+ CTCs (both P < 0.05). Conclusion: Poor prognosis can be predicted in PC patients when > 50% of CTCs are positive for KLF8 and vimentin.

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