Dr. Ring on Molecular Profiling of CTCs in Advanced Breast Cancer

Alexander Ring, MD, graduate student, University of Southern California, discusses a study investigating the molecular profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as a surrogate for distant metastasis in patients with stage IV breast cancer.

CTC samples from 8 patients with metastatic breast cancer were obtained, as well as peripheral blood samples and metastatic biopsies. All samples underwent RNA sequencing from genomic profiling and were analyzed to determine if the CTCs can serve as a surrogate for biopsies, Ring explains.

Results showed that gene expression signatures correlate with distant macrometastatic sites. Additionally, the gene-expression patterns revealed biological information that could be used as biomarkers or identify potential therapeutic targets.