Review
Nature Reviews Cancer 8, 329-340 (May 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrc2375
Detection, clinical relevance and specific biological properties of disseminating tumour cells
Klaus Pantel1, Ruud H. Brakenhoff2 & Burkhard Brandt1 About the authors
Abstract
Most cancer deaths are caused by haematogenous metastatic spread and subsequent growth of tumour cells at distant organs. Disseminating tumour cells present in the peripheral blood and bone marrow can now be detected and characterized at the single-cell level. These cells are highly relevant to the study of the biology of early metastatic spread and provide a diagnostic source in patients with overt metastases. Here we review the evidence that disseminating tumour cells have a variety of uses for understanding tumour biology and improving cancer treatment.
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Author affiliations
- Institute of Tumour Biology, Center of Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, Germany.
- Section of Tumour Biology, Department of Otolaryngology/Head-Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Correspondence to: Klaus Pantel1 Email: pantel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
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