Clinical relevance of EMT and stem-like gene expression in circulating tumor cells of metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

ABSTRACT: Using approved methods, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are only isolated from blood in 30%-50% of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. We previously validated a technique to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a cohort of mCRC patients by combining immunomagnetic enrichment of EpCAM⁺/CD45^- cells with qRT-PCR amplification of CK20 and survivin expression. Here, we examined the prognostic utility of CTC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem cell gene expression. An 8 ml blood sample was collected from 78 consecutive mCRC patients before treatment with investigational and standard chemotherapeutics. The mRNA expression of EMT (PI3Kα, Akt-2, Twist1) and stem cell (ALDH1) markers was measured. Associations between CTC gene expression and progressi

SUBMITTER: Ning Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7505126 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature