The application of circulating tumor cells in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer metastasis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in peripheral blood of patients with different stages of colorectal cancer (CRC), and to evaluate its significance in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer metastasis. Methods Sixty patients with CRC (42 in Ⅱ-Ⅲ stage and 18 in IV stage) and 30 patients with benign rectal disease were recruited from January 2014 to December 2015. The CTC in peripheral blood was purified with Immunomagnetic Separation Technologie, and detected by immunofluorescence in situ hybridization (imFISH). The serum levels of CEA were detected by electrochemiluminescence method meanwhile. The correlation between CTC and CEA was analyzed. Results CTC positive rates in CRC patients were significantly higher than those in benign rectal disease controls. CTC positive rates in Ⅳ stage were significantly higher than those in Ⅱ-Ⅲ stage. The expression of CTC was significantly correlated with CEA (r=0.665 2, P < 0.01). Conclusions The expression of CTC in CRC patients is significantly higher than that in benign rectal disease control group. It is closely related to clinical stages. Detection of peripheral blood CTC has important clinical significance in the early diagnosis of CRC metastasis. Key words: Colorectal cancer; Neoplastic cells, circulating; Metastasis; Carcinoembryonic antigen