Predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in newly-diagnosed and recurrent ovarian cancer patients

Objective

To determine whether circulating tumor cells (CTCs), as detected and enumerated by the Veridex CellSearch^TM system, could predict for clinical outcomes in women with newly diagnosed or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods

Serial measurements of CTC s and paired serum CA125 were collected in a series of 78 women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer seen at our institution over a period of 15 months. Clinical data were abstracted from patient medical records. CTCs were detected and enumerated by the CellSearch^TM protocol, and patients were divided into CTC negative (< 2 CTCs) or positive (≥ 2 CTCs) groups. CTC groups were correlated with clinical characteristics and outcomes. A longitudinal analysis of CTC change and CA125 trends was also performed.

Results

At least one CTC was isolated from the peripheral blood of over 80% of the women participating in this study, with a range from 0 to 8. No correlations were observed between CTC numbers and clinical characteristics or outcomes. Although both serum CA125 and CTC number exhibited an overall significant decreasing trend over time, there was no correlation observed between change in CTCs and CA125.

Conclusion

Using the FDA-approved CellSearch^TM system, CTCs can be isolated from women with newly diagnosed or recurrent ovarian cancer. However, CTC numbers do not significantly correlate with clinical characteristics or patient outcomes. Future studies should focus on phenotypic characterization of CTCs and whether different isolation protocols yield a higher number of CTCs or add prognostic value.