Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Lung Cancer

Abstract

The Cell Search System was used to measure and analyze the circulating tumor cells (CTC) in blood from patients with lung cancer. The study was performed on 15 patients with untreated lung cancer between July 2007 and January 2008. Of the 15 patients, 3 patients were stage IA (T1N0M0), 1 patient was stage IIB (T2N1M0), 3 patients were stage IIIA (T1-2N2M0), 4 patients were stage IIIB (T4N1M0), and 4 patients were stage IV (Tx-2N1-3M1). Positive cell counts (one or more CTCs) were identified in 4 patients, all of whom had stage IIIB or stage IV lung cancer. The number of CTCs ranged from 1 to 4,186. No correlation was found between the number of CTC and the CEA tumor marker level. CTCs are found in lung cancer when the cancer is at an advanced stage or has metastasized to distant sites. This study suggested that the number of CTCs could be used to determine the prognosis if data is obtained from a larger number of patients.