Circulating Breast Tumor Cells Exhibit Dynamic Changes in Epithelial and Mesenchymal Cell Composition

ABSTRACT: By applying RNA-ISH and RNAseq to circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the study provides definitive evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) across all histological types of breast cancer, identifying mediators such as FOXC1 and TGF-β signaling, and demonstrating dynamic treatment-associated changes in EMT within clusters of CTCs. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been postulated to contribute to the migration and dissemination of cancer cells, but supporting histopathological evidence is limited. We used a microfluidic device to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs), combined with multiplex fluorescent RNA-in-situ hybridization (ISH) and RNA sequencing, to quantify and characterize EMT in breast cancer cells within the bloodstream. Whereas only rare (0.1-10%) cells

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Yu M 

PROVIDER: S-ECPF-GEOD-41245 | biostudies-other | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other