Actualidad y futuro en las técnicas de cuantificiación de células tumorales circulantes: su importancia en tumores sólidos epiteliales

Cancer metastasis occurs when cells shed from a primary or metastatic tumor, enter the circulation, and begin to grow in distant locations of the body. Carcinomas are derived from epithelial cells that are not normally found in circulation. The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood, as detected by the CellSearch® Circulating Tumor Cell Kit, is associated with disease free survival and decreased overall survival in patients treated for metastatic breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. The test is to be used as an aid in the monitoring of patients with metastatic breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. In our article we will evaluate other methods of analysing circulating tumor cells and their clinical application.