Baseline circulating stem-like cells predict survival in patients with metastatic breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are associated with breast cancer prognosis. Research is limited regarding the role of circulating cancer stem-like cells (cCSCs) considering the treatment response and survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer. Accordingly, we performed this prospective study to clarify the prognostic significance of baseline cCSCs for metastatic breast cancer in terms of first-line chemotherapy.

Methods

Between April 2014 and January 2016, we prospectively enrolled 48 patients with stage IV breast invasive ductal carcinoma who underwent first-line chemotherapy. We identified and analyzed CTCs and cCSCs by using a protocol based on negative selection and flow cytometry before chemotherapy. CTCs were identified as EpCAM⁺Hoechst

SUBMITTER: Lee CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6889331 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature