Circulating tumor cells as a novel cellular biomarker in breast cancer

As the standard of care in primary breast cancer includes regular physical examinations and annual mammography, the micrometastasis cannot be detected during present patients’ follow up. Cancer calls can spread through vessels not only in advanced breast cancer, but also in early ones. Cancer management is challenged by metastasis which is based on primary cell potential to escape from treatment strategies and spread through vessels. Circulating tumor cells, which carry certain tumor specific characteristics, have ability to invade extra cellular matrix, migrate in the blood vessels, escape from immunity system, and finally home in the specific target organs. Based on evidence, CTCs have prognostic impact which can predict the patient’s response and survival. However, administration of CTCs as cellular biomarkers deals with issues such as technical difficulties in detecting and characterization of these cells which can affect the accuracy of the present tests. By means of technical improvement in CTCs characterization, there is a hope that they can be useful in personalized decision making for breast cancer patients.