Complementary detection strategies for circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: clinical implications of combining immunofluorescence and cytopathological staining.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) serve as important biomarkers for disease monitoring and treatment response in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Their detection remains challenging because of their low abundance, phenotypic diversity and non-standardized mode of detection. Cytopathological Giemsa and Immunofluorescence (IF) staining can offer complementary approaches for CTC characterization. Giemsa staining enables assessment of cellular morphology, while IF allows for marker-specific identification, together providing a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of CTCs.

Methods

We developed an IF staining protocol with antibodies against Cytokeratin (CK), vimentin (VIM), and Cluster of Differentiation 45 (CD45) to distinguish epithelial, mesenchymal, hybri

SUBMITTER: Jesenko T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12325023 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature