"The book will prove to be a useful resource for graduate students and established researchers with an interest in this field. It can provide a definitive source for the much-needed but often neglected theoretical framework for hospitals and laboratories desirous of establishing a CTC assay, in addition to providing practical tips. It should be included in the collection of libraries that cater to oncology clinicians, laboratory personnel as well as basic researchers." (Sudeep Gupta, The National Medical Journal of India, Vol. 30 (1), January-February, 2017)
"The book is divided into four chapters that beyond of methodological issues summarize comprehensive information on biological nature, genesis, molecular characteristics, alterations, behaviour and clinical utility of CTCs. ... 'Circulating tumour cells' brings us comprehensive review of current state-of-art in methodological approaches, clinical application and future perspectives of CTCs research." (Bozena Smolkova, Neoplasma, Vol. 63 (5), 2016)
Preface.- Foreword.- Section I. Technologies for CTC Identification.- 1. Significance of Studying Circulating Tumor Cells.- 2. Affinity-Based Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells.- 3. Size-Based and Non-Affinity Based Microfluidic Devices for Circulating Tumor Cell Enrichment and Characterization.- 4. Molecular Assays for the Detection and Molecular Characterization of CTCs.- 5. Cancer Stem Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells Molecular Markers, Isolation Techniques and Clinical Implications.- Section II. Fundamental Studies of
CTC.- 6. Circulating Tumor Cells and Tumor Dormancy.- 7. Prevention of Conversion of Tumor Dormancy into Proliferative Metastases.- 8. Genesis of Circulating Tumor Cells through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as a Mechanism for Distant Dissemination.- Section III. CTC Analysis.- 9. CTC Analysis FISH, ISH, Array-CGH and Other Molecular Assays.- 10. Genome-Wide Gene Copy Number Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells.- 11. Perspectives on the Functional Characterization and In Vitro Maintenance of Circulating Tumor Cells.- 12. Prognostic Implications of CTC in Breast Cancer.- Section IV. Potential Clinical Applications of CTC.- 13. CTC in Advanced Breast Cancer Prognosis, Monitoring and Clinical Utility.- 14. Evolution of Metastatic Disease: The Need for Monitoring and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities.- 15. CTC for Biomarker and Companion Diagnostic Development.- 16. Perspectives on Clinical Applications of CTCs.- Index.
Richard J. Cote, M.D., is Chair, Department of Pathology, the University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine and the University of Miami Health System, and
Chief of Pathology, Jackson Memorial Hospital. As well, he is Director, the University of Miami Biomedical Nanoscience Institute. Dr. Cote, the recipient of more than $35 million in peer reviewed grant support, holds numerous patents for cancer-related and nanoscale technologies. Dr. Cote also serves as a member and advisor to numerous national and international study groups, cancer programs, and societies—including the National Cancer Institute. The editor and co-author of standard handbooks, Dr. Cote has published more than 300 scientific papers/documents, which have received 10,000 citations.
Ram Datar, Ph. D., is Co-Director, Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, the University of Miami, Associate Professor, Pathology, Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Datar's areas of research focus include cancer
molecular pathology and biomedical nanotechnology. Specifically, he has
been involved in various aspects of detection and molecular characterization of occult metastases in cancers. For many years, he has also been involved in the development and application of micro- and nanoscale devices for biomedical diagnostic applications. His goal is to employ microfabrication and develo
pment of microfluidic devices to further novel technology
development, including biosensors and molecular methods to analyze expression profiles of cancers. Dr. Datar's many publications have received more than 2,200 citations.
This volume provides the latest research on circulating tumor cells aimed for cancer researchers, scientists, and molecular oncologists. It presents the basic concepts behind circulating tumor cells (CTCs), metastatic biology, and potential applications as to how CTCs can be used in diagnostic biomarkers.
CTCs are cells that have detached from the primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. Such cells may become "seeds" for the growth of additional tumors. The field of analysis surrounding cancer metastasis has been steadily growing, and CTCs provide effective biomarkers that can be examined in peripheral blood through a minimally invasive “liquid biopsy” procedure. CTCs offer several exciting applications, not only as markers of disease progression but also as biomarkers of monitoring response to therapy and companion diagnostics for novel anticancer drug development.There has been rapid progress in the field, fueled by research in basic science, biomedical engineering, and clinical applications. This book presents the latest developments from world-wide leaders, and will be useful for anyone interested in this important and expanding field.