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2016, Volume 32, Number 3, Page(s) 148-157
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DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2016.01364 |
Circulating Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer: Correlation with Clinicopathological Parameters, Hormone Profile and MicroRNA Polymorphisms |
Cherry BANSAL1,4, Mukta PUJANI2, Sanjeev MISRA3, AN SRIVASTAVA1, US SINGH4 |
1Department of Pathology, Era's Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
2ESIC Medical College, FARIDABAD, INDIA
3Department of Surgical Oncology, AIIMS, Jodhpur, RAJASTHAN, INDIA
4Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA |
Keywords:
Breast cancer, Circulating tumor cells, Hormone receptors, microRNA , Flow cytometry |
Objective: Circulating tumor cells are isolated tumor cells in the peripheral blood that serve as important prognostic indicators for many kind
of tumors. The study was conducted to know the rate of detection of circulating tumor cells among breast cancer patients in comparison with
benign breast diseases and control subjects and to know the association between CTC positivity and various clinicopathological parameters,
hormonal profile and microRNA polymorphisms.
Material and Method: In the present case control study, we included 182 healthy controls, 108 cases of benign breast disease and 114 breast
carcinoma cases. Various clinicopathological details of cases were recorded. Immunohistochemistry was performed for estrogen (ER) and
progesterone receptors (PR) and Her-2 neu. Circulating tumor cells were analyzed using flow cytometry (EpCAM, CK, CD45). Genotypic
frequency of micro RNA polymorphisms was determined by PCR-RFLP assay.
Results: Circulating tumor cell positivity was observed in 11/114 (9.64%) breast cancer cases but absent in benign and control groups, and was
significantly associated with tumor size, histologic type, tumor grade, metastasis and skin infiltration (p<0.05). Circulating tumor cell positivity
did not show any correlation with the immunohistochemical profile. No significant associations between pre-miRNA genetic variations
miR-196a2 C/T (rs11614913), miR-146a G/C (rs2910164) and miR-499 T>C (rs3746444) polymorphisms and circulating tumor cell positivity
were observed.
Conclusion: The flow cytometry protocol for detection and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells is a time and cost-effective
technique, suitable for routine clinical use. However, more elaborate studies are needed to establish the findings as our study was limited by small
sample size.
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