Clinical value of circulating tumor cells detection in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between the positive rate of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and clinicopathological parameters, recurrence and metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods 7.5 ml peripheral blood of 138 cases of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer who met inclusion criteria, 82 post-operative cases of colorectal cancer and 34 healthy controls were collected. The CTC was enriched by beads which packaged the anti epithelial cell adhesion molecule and counting the CTC (CK+ DAPI+ CD45-). To investigate the association between the preoperative positive rate of CTC and clinicopathological parameters, and the relationship between the positive rate of CTC and recurrence and metastasis in post-operative colorectal cancer patients who have not accepted any therapy more than one month. Results The positive rate of CTC in patients with colorectal cancer and healthy controls were 47.1% (65/138), and 0 (0/34) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2= 25.743, P 0.05); The significant association between the positive rate of CTC and N or M staging was found. CTC positive rates in N0, N1, N2 stage were 38.3% (23/60), 37.9% (11/29), and 63.9% (23/36) respectively (χ 2= 6.819, P= 0.033); CTCs positive rates of M0, M1 stage were 38.0% (38/100) and 71.1% (27/38) respectively, and there was a statistical difference (χ 2= 12.074, P= 0.001). In 82 post-operative cases of colorectal cancer, the positive rates of CTC were 51.6% (32/62) and 90.0% (18/20) in non-recurrence and recurrence, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2= 9.365, P= 0.002). Conclusion CTC detection may assess the occurrence of metastasis and recurrence in colorectal cancer patients. Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Circulating tumor cells; Clinical value