Heterogeneous Circulating Tumor Cells in Sarcoma: Implication for Clinical Practice.

ABSTRACT: Bone and soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) represent a group of heterogeneous rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, with a poor prognosis. Due to their low incidence, only a few studies have been reported addressing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in sarcoma, despite the well-documented relevance for applications of liquid biopsy in precision medicine. In the present review, the most recent data relative to the detection and isolation of viable and intact CTCs in these tumors will be reviewed, and the heterogeneity in CTCs will be discussed. The relevance of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and stemness in defining the phenotypic and functional properties of these rare cells in sarcoma will be highlighted. Of note, the existence of dynamic epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related p

SUBMITTER: Agnoletto C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8124844 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature