Comparison of three molecular assays for the detection and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Comparison studies between different analytical methodologies for circulating tumor cells (CTC) detection and molecular characterization are urgently needed, since standardization of assays is essential before their use in clinical practice.

Methods

We compared three different CTC molecular assays. To avoid discrepancies due to pre-analytical errors we used the same cDNAs throughout our study. CTC were isolated using anti-EpCAM and anti-MUC1 coated magnetic beads from 2 × 5 ml of peripheral blood of 254 early and 51 metastatic breast cancer patients and 30 healthy individuals. The same cDNAs were analyzed by: a) singleplex RT-qPCR assay for CK-19; b) multiplex RT-qPCR for CK-19, HER-2, MAGE- A3, and PBGD; and c) a commercially available molecular assay (AdnaTest

SUBMITTER: Strati A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3672668 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature