Circulating tumor cells in breast cancer: Their potential as prognostic and predictive biomarkers

Öz

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous cancer type that remains among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Despite advances in early diagnosis and targeted treatment approaches in clinical practice today, metastasis significantly affects the prognosis of cancer patients. In this context, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are associated with metastasis and the aggressive nature of the tumor, are attracting attention for early diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response through liquid biopsy-based analyses. CTCs are cells that separate from primary tumor tissue and have the potential to localize in different tissues via the bloodstream. Studies conducted in recent years have revealed the role of CTCs as a driving force behind metastasis, and research on their importance in different cancer types, particularly breast cancer, has gained momentum. In this context, this review evaluates the biology of CTCs and their prognostic and predictive roles as an innovative biomarker in breast cancer. Furthermore, the limitations and future perspectives of CTCs in clinical use are discussed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Breast cancer
• Circulating tumor cells
• Prognosis
• Biyomarkers

Meme kanserinde sirküle tümör hücreleri: Prognostik ve prediktif biyobelirteç olarak potansiyelleri

Öz

Meme kanseri kansere bağlı ölüm nedenlerinin başında gelen heterojen bir kanser türüdür. Günümüzde, klinikte erken tanı ve hedefe yönelik tedavi yaklaşımlarındaki gelişmelere rağmen, metastaz kanser hastalarının prognozunu büyük oranda etkilemektedir. Bu kapsamda metastaz gelişiminde ve tümörün agresif yapısı ile ilişkili olarak sirküle tümör hücreleri (CTC), likit biyopsi temelli analizlerle ile erken tanı ve tedavi yanıtının değerlendirilmesinde dikkat çekmektedir. CTC’ler tümör dokusundan ayrılarak kan dolaşımı ile farklı dokulara lokalize olma potansiyeline sahip hücrelerdir. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalarda CTC’lerin metastazın itici gücü olduğu rolleri ortaya konmuş ve başta meme kanseri olmak üzere farklı kanser tiplerinde önemine yönelik gerçekleştirilen çalışmalar hız kazanmıştır. Bu bağlamda mevcut derlemede CTC’lerin biyolojisi ile birlikte meme kanserinde yenilikçi bir biyobelirteç olarak prognostik ve prediktif rolü değerlendirilmiştir. Bununla birlikte CTC’lerin klinikteki kullanımında sınırlılıklar ve gelecek perspektifleri ile tartışılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Meme kanseri
• Sirküle tümör hücreleri
• Prognoz
• Biyobelirteç

Kaynakça

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