Detection of circulating tumor cells using microfiltration with application of polycarbonate membrane

Objective: The aim of our study was the potential detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in early stage breast cancer patients. Our approach was cell microfiltration through polycarbonate membrane as a concentration method suitable for CTC selection in peripheral blood. The isolated cells on membrane were further analysed by laser scanning cytometry. Methods: Sixteen patients were enrolled in the study, of which 13 had early stage breast carcinoma and 3 patients had metastatic breast carcinoma. The analyses were performed from 9 ml of peripheral blood, in one patient blood was drawn twice. Blood samples were taken after adjuvant chemotherapy but prior to adjuvant radiotherapy. The control group consisted of 12 clinically healthy subjects. Results: In the control group 3 subjects out of 12 had 1 CTC, the mean CTC numbers being 0.25 ± 0.45. In the early stage breast cancer patients 0-36 CTCs were detected (mean 13.9 ± 12.9 CTCs. Eight patients out of 13 had more than 2 CTCs (62 %). The used technique is a simple and reproducible method of detection of CTCs in peripheral blood. Sensitivity of the method is 88.5 %. Conclusions: Detection of CTCs seems to be a promising method for the monitoring of adjuvant therapy in early stage breast cancer patients and for the identification of high risk patients in whom elevated numbers of CTCs are persisting following the termination of adjuvant therapy.