CD49f-based selection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) improves detection across breast cancer subtypes

Mostert, Bianca; Kraan, Jaco; Sieuwerts, Anieta M.; van der Spoel, Petra; Bolt-de Vries, Joan; Prager-van der Smissen, Wendy J.C.; Smid, Marcel; Timmermans, Annemieke M.; Martens, John W.M.; Gratama, Jan W.; Foekens, John A.; Sleijfer, Stefan

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2011.12.031

« Previous Next »Cancer Letters
Volume 319, Issue 1 , Pages 49-55, 1 June 2012

CD49f-based selection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) improves detection across breast cancer subtypes

Bianca Mostert
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Corresponding author at: Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands. Tel.: +31 10 704 13 24; fax: +31 10 704 10 05.
Jaco Kraan
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
Anieta M. Sieuwerts
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Petra van der Spoel
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
Joan Bolt-de Vries
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Wendy J.C. Prager-van der Smissen
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Marcel Smid
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Annemieke M. Timmermans
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
John W.M. Martens
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Jan W. Gratama
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
John A. Foekens
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands
Stefan Sleijfer
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center and Laboratory of Translational Tumor Immunology, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Erasmus MC, Department of Medical Oncology, Josephine Nefkens Institute and Cancer Genomics Center, Dr. Molenwaterplein 50-60, 3015 GE Rotterdam, Netherlands

Received 10 October 2011; received in revised form 16 December 2011; accepted 16 December 2011. published online 24 January 2012.

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be enumerated using CellSearch, but not all breast cancer subtypes, specifically those with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics, sufficiently express the enrichment (EpCAM) and selection (CK8/18/19) markers used in this method. While CD146 can detect EpCAM-negative CTCs, we here evaluated the value of various cytokeratins and CD49f to detect CK8/18/19-negative CTCs. The tested cytokeratins provided no substantial benefit, but adding CD49f to CK8/18/19 as a selection marker resulted in improved recovery of normal-like cell lines.

Combined staining of CK8/18/19 and CD49f after CD146/EpCAM enrichment is likely to further improve CTC detection in breast cancer.

Keywords: Circulating tumor cells, Breast cancer, CellSearch, Cytokeratin, CD49f