An Immunological Perspective of Circulating Tumor Cells as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.

ABSTRACT: Immune modulation is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer-immune interaction shapes the course of disease progression at every step of tumorigenesis, including metastasis, of which circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as an indicator. These CTCs are a heterogeneous population of tumor cells that have disseminated from the tumor into circulation. They have been increasingly studied in recent years due to their importance in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment response. Ample evidence demonstrates that CTCs interact with immune cells in circulation, where they must evade immune surveillance or modulate immune response. The interaction between CTCs and the immune system is emerging as a critical point by which CTCs facilitate metastatic progression. Understanding the complex cros

SUBMITTER: Dotse E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8878951 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature