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Lani · 09-07-2006, 07:56 PM

I thought it was one of many open access articles on the breast cancer research site. Unfortunately it was part of an editorial so it was subscription only--here is a hint of what they said and the references (need to put that in a different reply as I am lousy at cutting and pasting and not losing everything!):
Molecular characterization of CTCs

Abstract
Introduction
Techniques for detecting CTCs: new developments for tumor cell enrichment and cell detection
PCR-based assays for CTC detection
Can blood examination replace BM aspiration?
Molecular characterization of CTCs
Conclusion and perspectives
Abbreviations
Competing interests
References

Recent technical developments permit an examination of the genome of even single DTCs. Using immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), several groups have reported tumor-antigen expression and/or chromosomal aberrations of DTCs in BM and CTCs, indicating the malignant origin of these disseminated cells and indicating genetic heterogeneity [2,21].

The biologic properties of CTCs are not yet well understood. It seems that these cells have little proliferative potential [5]. With current techniques, it is also possible to perform gene expression profiling from CTCs [22,23]. This enables studies that should allow deeper insights into the mechanisms allowing CTCs to form manifest metastasis. For example, it seems that, for breast cancer, only a small proportion of tumor cells, so-called 'cancer stem cells', have the capacity for self-renewal and unlimited growth [24]. In view of the resistance of DTCs and CTCs to chemotherapy it is possible that some of these cells have stem-cell properties. Identifying these 'metastatic stem cells' will be the one of the challenges for future research.

One aspect of clinical importance is the identification of therapeutic targets such as HER-2/neu on CTCs. HER-2 can be detected on CTCs with cytogenetic [21], immunocyto-chemical [25,26] and PCR methods [27]. There are several possible implications of these findings. For example, it has been reported that nearly one-third of patients whose primary tumors were reportedly negative for HER-2 had CTCs with amplified HER-2 (as determined by FISH). Given the extraordinary impact of trastuzumab (Herceptin), a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER-2, in both the metastatic and adjuvant settings, monitoring CTCs for HER-2 could have an enormous influence on the application of this therapy. In addition, the presence of HER-2-positive CTCs seems to be associated with an impaired prognosis [26,27].

09-07-2006, 07:56 PM	#5
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	OOPs! My mistake I thought it was one of many open access articles on the breast cancer research site. Unfortunately it was part of an editorial so it was subscription only--here is a hint of what they said and the references (need to put that in a different reply as I am lousy at cutting and pasting and not losing everything!): Molecular characterization of CTCs Abstract Introduction Techniques for detecting CTCs: new developments for tumor cell enrichment and cell detection PCR-based assays for CTC detection Can blood examination replace BM aspiration? Molecular characterization of CTCs Conclusion and perspectives Abbreviations Competing interests References Recent technical developments permit an examination of the genome of even single DTCs. Using immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), several groups have reported tumor-antigen expression and/or chromosomal aberrations of DTCs in BM and CTCs, indicating the malignant origin of these disseminated cells and indicating genetic heterogeneity [2,21]. The biologic properties of CTCs are not yet well understood. It seems that these cells have little proliferative potential [5]. With current techniques, it is also possible to perform gene expression profiling from CTCs [22,23]. This enables studies that should allow deeper insights into the mechanisms allowing CTCs to form manifest metastasis. For example, it seems that, for breast cancer, only a small proportion of tumor cells, so-called 'cancer stem cells', have the capacity for self-renewal and unlimited growth [24]. In view of the resistance of DTCs and CTCs to chemotherapy it is possible that some of these cells have stem-cell properties. Identifying these 'metastatic stem cells' will be the one of the challenges for future research. One aspect of clinical importance is the identification of therapeutic targets such as HER-2/neu on CTCs. HER-2 can be detected on CTCs with cytogenetic [21], immunocyto-chemical [25,26] and PCR methods [27]. There are several possible implications of these findings. For example, it has been reported that nearly one-third of patients whose primary tumors were reportedly negative for HER-2 had CTCs with amplified HER-2 (as determined by FISH). Given the extraordinary impact of trastuzumab (Herceptin), a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER-2, in both the metastatic and adjuvant settings, monitoring CTCs for HER-2 could have an enormous influence on the application of this therapy. In addition, the presence of HER-2-positive CTCs seems to be associated with an impaired prognosis [26,27].