The Prognostic Value of Circulating Tumor Cells in Primary Breast Cancer Prior to Any Systematic Therapy: A Systematic Review Publisher Pubmed



Mansouri S¹ ; Mokhtarihesari P² ; Naghavialhosseini F¹ ; Keivan Majidzadeh A¹ ; Farahmand L¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Current Stem Cell Research and Therapy Published:2019

Abstract

Background: Numerous studies have defined the outstanding role of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the management of cancer, particularly the ones in association with primary tumor metastases. Objective: The overall aim of the present study was to investigate whether CTCs may serve as a clinical prognostic marker for survival in primary breast cancer. Methods: Articles Published from June 2011 to July 2017 in PubMed, EMBase, and Cochrane library databases were thoroughly screened for selecting the ones meeting the inclusion criteria. Result: Studies applying CellSearch® method demonstrated the risk ratios (RR) of 2.51 (95% CI: 1.78-3.54), 3.98 (95% CI: 2.28-6.95), 5.59 (95% CI: 3.29-9.51), and 3.38 (95% CI: 1.88-6.06) for death rate and relapse rates of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.89-3.26), 3.62 (95% CI: 2.37-5.51), 4.45 (95% CI: 2.94-6.73), and 2.88 (95 % CI: 1.99-4.17) at four CTC positive cut points (≥ 1, ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and ≥ 5 CTCs/7.5 ml). Two studies applying the AdnaTest® also documented increased death (RR: 1.38, 95 % CI: 0.42-4.49) and relapse rates (RR: 2.97, 95 % CI: 1.23-7.18)). Conclusion: Results of this meta-analysis allude CTCs as potent prognostic markers in primary breast cancers prior to any systemic therapy especially when it is studied via CellSearch® administration, considering that the more the CTCs, the greater the death and relapse rates. © 2019 Bentham Science Publishers.