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A concept for the standardized detection of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow from patients with primary breast cancer and its clinical implementation
Author(s) -
Fehm Tanja,
Braun Stephan,
Muller Volkmar,
Janni Wolfgang,
Gebauer Gerhard,
Marth Christian,
Schindlbeck Christian,
Wallwiener Diethelm,
Borgen Elin,
Naume Bjorn,
Pantel Klaus,
Solomayer Erich
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.22076
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , clinical trial , cancer , bone marrow , oncology , risk stratification
Numerous single‐institutional studies and a large pooled analysis have demonstrated that the presence of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow (BM) from patients with primary, nonmetastatic breast cancer (Stages I‐III) is associated with impaired prognosis. To date, sampling of BM and assessment of DTCs is not considered a routine procedure in the clinical management of breast cancer patients; however, emerging data suggest a future role for risk stratification and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. Because these clinical options need to be evaluated in trials to verify the principle of this concept in the clinical setting, agreement on the standardized detection of DTCs is necessary. Consequently, the German, Austrian, and Swiss Societies for Senology recently formed a panel 1) to review and discuss the existing methodologies, 2) to find a consensus for a standardized detection of DTCs, and 3) to explore the options for its clinical implementation. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.