Heterogeneity of estrogen receptor expression in circulating tumor cells from metastatic breast cancer patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endocrine treatment is the most preferable systemic treatment in metastatic breast cancer patients that have had an estrogen receptor (ER) positive primary tumor or metastatic lesions, however, approximately 20% of these patients do not benefit from the therapy and demonstrate further metastatic progress. One reason for failure of endocrine therapy might be the heterogeneity of ER expression in tumor cells spreading from the primary tumor to distant sites which is reflected in detectable circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

Methods

A sensitive and specific staining protocol for ER, keratin 8/18/19, CD45 was established. Peripheral blood from 35 metastatic breast cancer patients with ER-positive primary tumors was tested for the presence of CTCs. Keratin 8/18/19 and DAP

SUBMITTER: Babayan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3776726 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature