303 Poster - Real-time non-invasive chemoresistance profiling of circulating tumor associated cells in breast cancers to determine resistance towards mitotic inhibitors

Abstract

Background: Paclitaxel, Docetaxel and Vinorelbine exert anti-tumor activity by interfering with microtubule dynamics, leading to mitotic arrest. Though these agents are commonly used in treatment of breast cancers, therapy failures are noted due to innate and acquired chemoresistance. Real-time monitoring of chemoresistance towards such treatment agents is an unmet clinical need since conventional methods for chemoresistance profiling (CRP) necessitate invasive biopsies to obtain viable tumor tissue. We evaluated the utility of peripheral blood Circulating Tumor Associated Cells (C-TACs) for real-time non-invasive CRP in breast cancers.