Mass cytometric detection of homologous recombination proficiency in circulating tumor cells to predict chemoresistance of metastatic breast cancer patients.

ABSTRACT: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can serve as a liquid biopsy to gain insight into treatment responses and metastatic recurrence. Due to their rarity, the analysis of CTCs is challenging and commonly based on immunomagnetic technologies using antibodies against EpCAM. This study used mass cytometry (CyTOF®) for the identification and characterization of CTCs from longitudinally monitored metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients. Functional analysis focused on DNA damage responses, particularly the DNA repair pathway of homologous recombination (HR) validated in BC cells from the pleura. Fifty-two blood samples from 13 mBC patients were collected for the enumeration of CTCs using CellSearch® technology, isolation of CTCs together with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and of plasma. C

SUBMITTER: Niedermayer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12334908 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature