Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic and Clinically Localized Urothelial Carcinoma

CTCs are commonly observed in metastatic UC. CTCs were observed in 50% of the patients with metastatic UC tested. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis confirmed the aneusomic chromosomal content in the CTCs. These findings suggest that measurable CTCs might be prognostic for shortened survival in patients with metastatic UC, although the optimal threshold for a “positive” finding is unknown. CTCs were also detected in a subset of patients with clinically localized disease, identifying a potential high-risk, preoperative group for future study.