Prognostic significance of isolated tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer in recent 10-year studies (Review)

Akagi,Yoshito; Kinugasa,Tetsushi; Adachi,Yosuke; Shirouzu,Kazuo

doi:10.3892/mco.2013.116

Prognostic significance of isolated tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer in recent 10-year studies (Review)

Authors:
- Yoshito Akagi
- Tetsushi Kinugasa
- Yosuke Adachi
- Kazuo Shirouzu
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Published online on: May 9, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2013.116
Pages: 582-592

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that detach from the primary tumor and move into the circulation are detected in patients with metastatic cancer. The discovery of such cancer cells has been used as a predictor of recurrence and prognosis, although a consensus regarding such applications has not been reached. Peritoneal cytology may be used for identifying high risk of recurrence or mortality, whereas the intraoperative presence of tumor cells in drainage veins, bone marrow, or the liver is not always useful for evaluating the prognosis. The reported positive rate for tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer, including metastasis, has varied from 10 to 80%; however, numerous studies have demonstrated significant differences in the recurrence and mortality rates between patients with and without isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in the peripheral blood. However, the clinical significance of CTCs as an absolute prognostic factor has not been elucidated, since the measurement methodologies and/or the number of cases differed between the studies. Future prospective studies including larger patient populations may elucidate the utility of routine detection of ITCs in daily practice.

View Figures

View References

1.	Hayashi N, Ito I, Yanagisawa A, Kato Y, Nakamori S, Imaoka S, Watanabe H, Ogawa M and Nakamura Y: Genetic diagnosis of lymph-node metastasis in colorectal cancer. Lancet. 345:1257–1259. 1995. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
2.	O’Sullivan GC, Collins JK, Kelly J, Morgan J, Madden M and Shanahan F: Micrometastases: marker of metastatic potential or evidence of residual disease? Gut. 40:512–515. 1997.PubMed/NCBI
3.	Mori M, Mimori K, Ueo H, Tsuji K, Shiraishi T, Barnard GF, Sugimachi K and Akiyoshi T: Clinical significance of molecular detection of carcinoma cells in lymph nodes and peripheral blood by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in patients with gastrointestinal and breast carcinomas. J Clin Oncol. 16:128–132. 1998.
4.	Cristofanilli M, Budd GT, Ellis MJ, Stopeck A, Matera J, Miller MC, Reuben JM, Doyle GV, Allard WJ, Terstappen LW and Hayes DF: Circulating tumor cells, disease progression, and survival in metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 351:781–791. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
5.	Cristofanilli M, Hayes DF, Budd GT, Ellis MJ, Stopeck A, Reuben JM, Doyle GV, Matera J, Allard WJ, Miller MC, Fritsche HA, Hortobagyi GN and Terstappen LW: Circulating tumor cells: a novel prognostic factor for newly diagnosed meta-static breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 23:1420–1430. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
6.	Funaki NO, Tanaka J, Ohshio G, Onodera H, Maetani S and Imamura M: Cytokeratin 20 mRNA in peripheral venous blood of colorectal carcinoma patients. Br J Cancer. 77:1327–1332. 1998. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
7.	Taniguchi T, Makino M, Suzuki K and Kaibara N: Prognostic significance of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA in tumor drainage blood and peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Cancer. 89:970–976. 2000. View Article : Google Scholar
8.	Guadagni F, Kantor J, Aloe S, Carone MD, Spila A, D’Alessandro R, Abbolito MR, Cosimelli M, Graziano F, Carboni F, Carlini S, Perri P, Sciarretta F, Greiner JW, Kashmiri SV, Steinberg SM, Roselli M and Schlom J: Detection of blood-borne cells in colorectal cancer patients by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA: longitudinal analyses and demonstration of its potential importance as an adjunct to multiple serum markers. Cancer Res. 61:2523–2532. 2001.
9.	Sadahiro S, Suzuki T, Tokunaga N, Yurimoto S, Yasuda S, Tajima T, Makuuchi H, Murayama C and Matsuda K: Detection of tumor cells in the portal and peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma using competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cancer. 92:1251–1258. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar
10.	Tsavellas G, Patel H and Allen-Mersh TG: Detection and clinical significance of occult tumour cells in colorectal cancer (Review). Br J Surg. 88:1307–1320. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
11.	Conzelmann M, Linnemann U and Berger MR: Detection of disseminated tumour cells in the liver of cancer patients. Eur J Surg Oncol. 31:977–985. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
12.	Iddings D, Ahmad A, Elashoff D and Bilchik A: The prognostic effect of micrometastases in previously staged lymph node negative (N0) colorectal carcinoma: a meta-analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 13:1386–1392. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
13.	Doekhie FS, Kuppen PJ, Peeters KCMJ, Mesker WE, van Soest RA, Morreau H, van de Velde CJ, Tanke HJ and Tollenaar RA: Prognostic relevance of occult tumor cells in lymph nodes in colorectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol. 32:253–258. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
14.	Riethdorf S, Wikman H and Pantel K: Biological relevance of disseminated tumor cells in cancer patients (Review). Int J Cancer. 123:1991–2006. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
15.	Katsuno H, Zacharakis E, Aziz O, Rao C, Deeba S, Paraskeva P, Ziprin P, Athanasiou T and Darzi A: Does the presence of circulating tumor cells in the venous drainage of curative colorectal cancer resections determine prognosis? A meta-analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 15:3083–3091. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
16.	Rosenberg R, Hoos A, Mueller J, Baier P, Stricker D, Werner M, Nekarda H and Siewert JR: Prognostic significance of cytokeratin-20 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in lymph nodes of node-negative colorectal cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 20:1049–1055. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar
17.	Choi HJ, Choi YY and Hong SH: Incidence and prognostic implications of isolated tumor cells in lymph nodes from patients with Dukes B colorectal carcinoma. Dis Colon Rectum. 45:750–755. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
18.	Noura S, Yamamoto H and Ohnishi T: Comparative detection of lymph node micrometastases of stage II colorectal cancer by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. J Clin Oncol. 20:4232–4241. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar
19.	Merrie AE, van Rij AM, Dennett ER, Phillips LV, Yun K and McCall JL: Prognostic significance of occult metastases in colon cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:221–231. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
20.	Shimoyama M, Yamazaki T, Suda T and Hatakeyama K: Prognostic significance of lateral lymph node micrometastases in lower rectal cancer: an immunohistochemical study with CAM5.2. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:333–339. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
21.	Palma RT, Waisberg J, Bromberg SH, Simão AB and Godoy AC: Micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes of extirpated colorectal carcinoma: immunohistochemical study using anti-cytokeratin antibodies AE1/AE3. Colorectal Dis. 5:164–168. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar
22.	Fisher ER, Colangelo L, Wieand S, Fisher B and Wolmark N: Lack of influence of cytokeratin-positive mini-micrometastases in ‘Negative Node’ patients with colorectal cancer: findings from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Projects protocols R-01 and C-01. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:1021–1025. 2003.PubMed/NCBI
23.	Bukholm IR, Bondi J, Wiik P, Nesland JM, Andersen SN, Bakka A and Bukholm G: Presence of isolated tumour cells in mesenteric lymph nodes predicts poor prognosis in patients with stage II colon cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol. 29:862–866. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
24.	Kronberg U, Lopez-Kostner F, Soto G, Zúñiga A, Wistuba I, Miranda V, Pinto E, Viviani P and Marshall G: Detection of lymphatic micrometastases in patients with stage I and II colorectal cancer: impact on five-year survival. Dis Colon Rectum. 47:1151–1157. 2004.PubMed/NCBI
25.	Laso CA, Gonzalez JJ, Frenso F, Azcano E, Sanz L and Navarrete F: Prognostic value of micrometastases in esophageal and colorectal carcinoma: a clinical experience. Hepatogastroenterology. 51:964–967. 2004.PubMed/NCBI
26.	Rosenberg R, Friederichs J, Gertler R, Hoos A, Mueller J, Nahrig J, Nekarda H and Siewert JR: Prognostic evaluation and review of immunohistochemically detected disseminated tumor cells in peritumoral lymph nodes of patients with pN0 colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis. 19:430–437. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar
27.	Mukai M, Sato S, Ninomiya H, Wakui K, Komatsu N, Tsuchiya K, Nakasaki H and Makuuchi H: Recurrence and 5-FU sensitivity of stage II/Dukes’ B colorectal cancer with occult neoplastic cells in lymph node sinuses. Oncol Rep. 14:1171–1176. 2005.PubMed/NCBI
28.	Lee MR, Hong CW, Yoon SN, Lim SB, Park KJ, Lee MJ, Kim WH and Park JG: Isolated tumor cells in lymph nodes are not a prognostic marker for patients with stage I and stage II colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 93:13–18. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
29.	Garcia-Saenz JA, Saenz MC, Gonzalez L, Pérez-Segura P, Puente J, López-Tarruella S, Sastre J, Casado A, López-Asenjo JG and Díaz-Rubio E: Significance of the immunohistochemical detection of lymph node micrometastases in stage II colorectal carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol. 8:676–680. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
30.	Messerini L, Cianchi F, Cortesini C and Comin CE: Incidence and prognostic significance of occult tumor cells in lymph nodes from patients with stage IIA colorectal carcinoma. Hum Pathol. 37:1259–1267. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
31.	Wang C, Zhou ZG, Yu YY, Li Y, Lei WZ, Cheng Z and Chen ZX: Patterns of lateral pelvic lymph node metastases and micrometastases for patients with lower rectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol. 33:463–467. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
32.	Hara M, Hirai T, Nakanishi H, Kanemitsu Y, Komori K, Tatematsu M and Kato T: Isolated tumor cell in lateral lymph node has no influences on the prognosis of rectal cancer patients. Int J Colorectal Dis. 22:911–917. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
33.	Fleming FJ, Hayanga AJ, Glynn F, Thakore H, Kay E and Gillen P: Incidence and prognostic influence of lymph node micrometastases in rectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol. 33:998–1002. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
34.	Steinert R, Hantschick M, Vieth M, Gastinger I, Kühnel F, Lippert H and Reymond MA: Influence of subclinical tumor spreading on survival after curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Arch Surg. 143:122–128. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
35.	Davies M, Arumugam PJ, Shah VI, Watkins A, Roger Morgan A, Carr ND and Beynon J: The clinical significance of lymph node micrometastasis in stage I and stage II colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Oncol. 10:175–179. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
36.	Park SJ, Lee KY and Kim SY: Clinical significance of lymph node micrometastasis in stage I and stage II colon cancer. Cancer Res Treat. 40:75–80. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
37.	Bosch-Roig CE, Rosello-Sastre E, Alonso-Hemandez S, Almenar Cubells D, Grau Cardona E, Camarasa Lillo N, Bautista D and Molins Palau C: Prognostic value of the detection of lymph node micrometastases in colon cancer. Clin Transl Oncol. 10:572–578. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
38.	Koyanagi K, Bilchik AJ, Saha S, Turner RR, Wiese D, McCarter M, Shen P, Deacon L, Elashoff D and Hoon DS: Prognostic relevance of occult nodal micrometastases and circulating tumor cells in colorectal cancer on a prospective multicenter trial. Clin Cancer Res. 14:7391–7396. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
39.	Waldman SA, Hyslop T, Schulz S, Barkun A, Nielsen K, Haaf J, Bonaccorso C, Li Y and Weinberg DS: Association of GUCY2C expression in lymph nodes with time to recurrence and disease-free survival in pN0 colorectal cancer. JAMA. 301:745–752. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
40.	van Schaik PM, Hermans E, van der Linden JC, Pruijt JR, Ernst MF and Bosscha K: Micro-metastases in stages I and II colon cancer are a predictor of the development of distant metastases and worse disease-free survival. Eur J Surg Oncol. 35:492–496. 2009.PubMed/NCBI
41.	Uribarrena-Amezaga R, Ortego J, Fuentes J, Raventós N, Parra P and Uribarrena-Echevarría R: Prognostic value of lymph node micrometastasis in patients with colorectal cancer in Dukes stages A and B (T1-T4, N0, M0). Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 102:176–186. 2010.(In Spanish).
42.	Haince JF, Houde M, Beaudry G, L’espérance S, Garon G, Desaulniers M, Hafer LJ, Heald JI, Lyle S, Grossman SR, Têtu B, Sargent DJ and Fradet Y: Comparison of histopathology and RT-qPCR amplification of guanylyl cyclase C for detection of colon cancer metastases in lymph nodes. J Clin Pathol. 63:530–537. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
43.	Faerden AE, Sjo OH, Bukholm IR, Andersen SN, Svindland A, Nesbakken A and Bakka A: Lymph node micrometastases and isolated tumor cells influence survival in stage I and II colon cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 54:200–206. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
44.	Oh TY, Moon SM, Shin US, Lee HR and Park SH: Impact of prognosis of lymph node micrometastasis and isolated tumor cells in stage II colorectal cancer. J Korean Sc Coloproctol. 27:71–77. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
45.	Hyslop T, Weinberg DS, Schulz S, Barkun A and Waldman SA: Occult tumor burden predicts disease recurrence in lymph node-negative colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 17:3293–3303. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
46.	Mescoli C, Albertoni L, Pucciarelli S, Giacomelli L, Russo VM, Fassan M, Nitti D and Rugge M: Isolated tumor cells in regional lymph nodes as relapse predictors in stage I and II colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 30:965–971. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
47.	Guller U, Zajac P, Schnider A, Bösch B, Vorburger S, Zuber M, Spagnoli GC, Oertli D, Maurer R, Metzger U, Harder F, Heberer M and Marti WR: Disseminated single tumor cell as detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction represent a prognostic factor in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Ann Surg. 236:768–775. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar
48.	Yamamoto S, Akasu T, Fujita S and Moriya Y: Long-term prognostic value of conventional peritoneal cytology after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 33:33–37. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
49.	Kanellos I, Demetriades H, Zintzaras E, Mandrali A, Mantzoros I and Betsis D: Incidence and prognostic value of positive peritoneal cytology in colorectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:535–539. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
50.	Bosch B, Guller U, Schnider A, Maurer R, Harder F, Metzger U and Marti WR: Perioperative detection of disseminated tumour cells is an independent prognostic factor in patients with colorectal cancer. Br J Surg. 90:882–888. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
51.	Baskaranathan S, Philips J, McCredden P and Solomon MJ: Free colorectal cancer cells on the peritoneal surface: correlation with pathologic variables and survival. Dis Colon Rectum. 47:2076–2079. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
52.	Lloyd JM, McIver CM, Stephenson SA, Hewett PJ, Rieger N and Hardingham JE: Identification of early-stage colorectal cancer patients at risk of relapse post-resection by immunobead reverse transcription-PCR analysis of peritoneal lavage fluid for malignant cells. Clin Cancer Res. 12:417–423. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar
53.	Kanellos I, Zacharakis E, Kanellos D, Pramateftakis MG and Betsis D: Prognostic significance of CEA level and positive cytology in peritoneal washings in patients with colorectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 8:436–440. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
54.	Gozalan U, Yasti AC, Yuksek YN, Reis E and Kama NA: Peritoneal cytology in colorectal cancer: incidence and prognostic value. Am J Surg. 193:672–675. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
55.	Katoh H, Yamashita K, Sato T, Ozawa H, Nakamura T and Watanabe M: Prognostic significance of peritoneal tumour cells identified at surgery for colorectal cancer. Br J Surg. 96:769–777. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
56.	Noura S, Ohue M, Seki Y, Yano M, Ishikawa O and Kameyama M: Long-term prognostic value of conventional peritoneal lavage cytology in patients undergoing curative colorectal cancer resection. Dis Colon Rectum. 52:1312–1220. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar
57.	Nishikawa T, Watanabe T, Sunami E, Tsuno NH, Kitayama J and Nagawa H: Prognostic value of peritoneal cytology and the combination of peritoneal cytology and peritoneal dissemination in colorectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 52:2016–2021. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
58.	Temesi R, Sikorszki L, Bezsilla J, Botos A, Kovács J and Tihanyi T: Impact of intraabdominal lavage cytology on the long-term prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. World J Surg. 36:2714–2721. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
59.	Bessa X, Pinol V, Castellvi-Bel S, Piazuelo E, Lacy AM, Elizalde JI, Piqué JM and Castells A: Prognostic value of postoperative detection of blood circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal cancer operated for cure. Ann Surg. 237:368–375. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
60.	Giacomelli L, Gianni W, Belfiore C, Gandini O, Repetto L, Filippini A, Frati L, Aglianò AM and Gazzaniga P: Persistence of epidermal growth factor receptor and interleukin 10 in blood of colorectal cancer patients after surgery identifies patients with high risk of relapse. Clin Cancer Res. 9:2678–2682. 2003.
61.	Chen WS, Chung MY, Liu JH, Liu JM and Lin JK: Impact of circulating free tumor cells in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients during laparoscopic surgery. World J Surg. 28:552–557. 2004.PubMed/NCBI
62.	Zhang XW, Yang HY, Fan P, Yang L and Chen GY: Detection of micrometastasis in peripheral blood by multi-sampling in patients with colorectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol. 11:436–438. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
63.	Sadahiro S, Suzuki T, Ishikawa K, Saguchi T, Maeda Y, Yasuda S, Makuuchi H, Yurimoto S and Murayama C: Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA-expressing cells in portal and peripheral blood during surgery does not influence relapse in colorectal cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 12:988–994. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar
64.	Douard R, Wind P, Sales JP, Landi B, Berger A, Benichou J, Gayral F, Loric S and Cugnenc PH: Long-term prognostic value of detection of circulating colorectal cancer cells using CGM2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Surgery. 139:556–562. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar
65.	Iinuma H, Okinaga K, Egami H, Mimori K, Hayashi N, Nishida K, Adachi M, Mori M and Sasako M: Usefulness and clinical significance of quantitative real-time RT-PCR to detect isolated tumor cells in the peripheral blood and tumor drainage blood of patients with colorectal cancer. Int J Oncol. 28:297–306. 2006.PubMed/NCBI
66.	Koch M, Kienle P, Kastrati D, Antolovic D, Schmidt J, Herfarth C, von Knebel Doeberitz M and Weitz J: Prognostic impact of hematogenous tumor cell dissemination in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer. 118:3072–3077. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
67.	Katsumata K, Sumi T, Mori Y, Hisada M, Tsuchida A and Aoki T: Detection and evaluation of epithelial cells in the blood of colon cancer patients using RT-PCR. Int J Clin Oncol. 11:385–389. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
68.	Allen-Mersh TG, McCullough TK, Patel H, Wharton RQ, Glover C and Jonas SK: Role of circulating tumour cells in predicting recurrence after excision of primary colorectal carcinoma. Br J Surg. 94:96–105. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
69.	Sadahiro S, Suzuki T, Maeda Y, Yurimoto S, Yasuda S, Makuuchi H, Kamijo A and Murayama C: Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA-expressing cells in peripheral blood 7 days after curative surgery is a novel prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 14:1092–1098. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar
70.	Koch M, Antolovic D, Kienle P, Horstmann J, Herfarth C, von Knebel Doeberitz M and Weitz J: Increased detection rate and potential prognostic impact of disseminated tumor cells in patients undergoing endorectal ultrasound for rectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis. 22:359–365. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar
71.	Wang JY, Lin SR, Wu DC, Lu CY, Yu FJ, Hsieh JS, Cheng TL, Koay LB and Uen YH: Multiple molecular markers as predictors of colorectal cancer in patients with normal perioperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Clin Cancer Res. 13:2406–2413. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar
72.	Friederichs J, Gertler R, Rosenberg R, Dahm M, Nekarda H, Holzmann B and Siewert JR: Correlation of CK20-positive cells in peripheral venous blood with serum CEA levels in patients with colorectal carcinoma. World J Surg. 31:2329–2334. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
73.	Uen YH, Lin SR, Wu DC, Su YC, Wu JY, Cheng TL, Chi CW and Wang JY: Prognostic significance of multiple molecular markers for patients with stage II colorectal cancer undergoing curative resection. Ann Surg. 246:1040–1046. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
74.	Uen YH, Lu CY, Tsai HL, Yu FJ, Huang MY, Cheng TL, Lin SR and Wang JY: Persistent presence of postoperative circulating tumor cells is a poor prognostic factor for patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer after curative resection. Ann Surg Oncol. 15:2120–2128. 2008.PubMed/NCBI
75.	Yie SM, Lou B, Ye SR, Cao M, He X, Li P, Hu K, Rao L, Wu SM, Xiao HB and Gao E: Detection of surviving-expressing circulating cancer cells (CCCs) in peripheral blood of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer reveals high risks of relapse. Ann Surg Oncol. 15:3073–3082. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
76.	Wong SC, Chan CM, Ma BB, Hui EP, Ng SS, Lai PB, Cheung MT, Lo ES, Chan AK, Lam MY, Au TC and Chan AT: Clinical significance of cytokeratin 20-positive circulating tumor cells detected by a refined immunomagnetic enrichment assay in colorectal cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res. 15:1005–1012. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar
77.	Vardakis N, Messaritakis I, Papadaki C, Agoglossakis G, Sfakianaki M, Saridaki Z, Apostolaki S, Koutroubakis I, Perraki M, Hatzidaki D, Mavroudis D, Georgoulias V and Souglakos J: Prognostic significance of the detection of peripheral blood CEACAM5 mRNA-positive cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction in operable colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 17:165–173. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
78.	Lu CY, Uen YH, Tsai HL, Chuang SC, Hou MF, Wu DC, Juo SH, Lin SR and Wang JY: Molecular detection of persistent postoperative circulating tumour cells in stages II and III colon cancer patients via multiple blood sampling: prognostic significance of detection for early relapse. Br J Cancer. 104:1178–1184. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar
79.	Iinuma H, Watanabe T, Mimori K, Adachi M, Hayashi N, Tamura J, Matsuda K, Fukushima R, Okinaga K, Sasako M and Mori M: Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells, including cancer stem-like cells, in peripheral blood for recurrence and prognosis in patients with Dukes’ stage B and C colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 29:1547–1555. 2011.PubMed/NCBI
80.	Sunouchi K, Machinami R, Mori M, Namiki K, Hattori S, Murata Y, Tsuchiya T, Mizuno H and Tadokoro M: Clinical impact of carcinoembryonic antigen messenger ribonucleic acid expression in tumor-draining vein blood on postoperative liver metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma: a prospective, cohort study. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:467–473. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar
81.	Akashi A, Komuta K, Haraguchi M, Ueda T, Okudaira S, Furui J and Kanematsu T: Carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA in the mesenteric vein is not a predictor of hepatic metastasis in patients with resectable colorectal cancer: a long-term study. Dis Colon Rectum. 46:1653–1658. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
82.	Kanellos I, Zacharakis E, Kanellos D, Pramateftakis MG, Tsahalis T, Altsitsiadis E and Betsis D: Prognostic significance of CEA levels and detection of CEA mRNA in draining venous blood in patients with colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 94:3–8. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
83.	Shimada R, Iinuma H, Akahane T, Horiuchi A and Watanabe T: Prognostic significance of CTCs and CSCs of tumor drainage vein blood in Dukes’ stage B and C colorectal cancer patients. Oncol Rep. 27:947–953. 2012.PubMed/NCBI
84.	O’Connor OJ, Cahill RA, Kirwan WO and Redmond HP: The impact of bone marrow micrometastases on metastatic disease-free survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Colorectal Dis. 7:406–409. 2005.PubMed/NCBI
85.	Flatmark K, Borgen E, Nesland JM, Rasmussen H, Johannessen HO, Bukholm I, Rosales R, Hårklau L, Jacobsen HJ, Sandstad B, Boye K and Fodstad Ø: Disseminated tumour cells as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer. 104:1434–1439. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
86.	Vlems FA, Diepstra JH, Punt CJ, Ligtenberg MJ, Cornelissen IM, van Krieken JH, Wobbes T, van Muijen GN and Ruers TJ: Detection of disseminated tumour cells in blood and bone marrow samples of patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastasis of colorectal cancer. Br J Surg. 90:989–995. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
87.	Fruhauf NR, Kasimir-Bauer S, Gorlinger K, Lang H, Kaudel CP, Kaiser GM, Oldhafer KJ and Broelsch CE: Peri-operative filtration of disseminated cytokeratin positive cells in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 390:15–20. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
88.	Koch M, Kienle P, Hinz U, Antolovic D, Schmidt J, Herfarth C, von Knebel Doeberitz M and Weitz J: Detection of hematogenous tumor cell dissemination predicts tumor relapse in patients undergoing surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases. Ann Surg. 241:199–205. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar
89.	Topal B, Aerts JL, Roskams T, Fieuws S, Van Pelt J, Vandekerckhove P and Penninckx F: Cancer cell dissemination during curative surgery for colorectal liver metastases. Eur J Surg Oncol. 31:506–511. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
90.	Cohen SJ, Punt CJ, Iannotti N, Saidman BH, Sabbath KD, Gabrail NY, Picus J, Morse M, Mitchell E, Miller MC, Doyle GV, Tissing H, Terstappen LW and Meropol NJ: Relationship of circulating tumor cells to tumor response, progression-free survival, and overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 26:3213–3221. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
91.	Cohen SJ, Punt CJ, Iannotti N, Saidman BH, Sabbath KD, Gabrail NY, Picus J, Morse MA, Mitchell E, Miller MC, Doyle GV, Tissing H, Terstappen LW and Meropol NJ: Prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol. 20:1223–1229. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
92.	Tol J, Koopman M, Miller MC, Tibbe A, Cats A, Creemers GJ, Vos AH, Nagtegaal ID, Terstappen LW and Punt CJ: Circulating tumor cells early predict progression-free and overall survival in advanced colorectal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and targeted agents. Ann Oncol. 21:1006–1012. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
93.	Rahbari NN, Reissfelder C, Muhlbayer M, Weidmann K, Kahlert C, Büchler MW, Weitz J and Koch M: Correlation of angiogenic factors with circulating tumor cells and disease recurrence in patients undergoing curative resection for colorectal liver metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 18:2182–2191. 2011. View Article : Google Scholar
94.	Pilati P, Mocellin S, Bertazza L, Galdi F, Briarava M, Mammano E, Tessari E, Zavagno G and Nitti D: Prognostic value of putative circulating cancer stem cells in patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis. Ann Surg Oncol. 19:402–408. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
95.	Bjørnland K, Flatmark K, Mala T, Mathisen O, Bakka A, Aasen AO, Bergan A, Søreide O and Fodstad O: Detection of disseminated tumour cells in bone marrow of patients with isolated liver metastases from colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 82:224–227. 2003.PubMed/NCBI
96.	Schoppmeyer K, Fruhauf N, Oldhafer K, Seeber S and Kasimir-Bauer S: Tumor cell dissemination in colon cancer does not predict extrahepatic recurrence in patients undergoing surgery for hepatic metastases. Oncol Rep. 15:449–454. 2006.PubMed/NCBI
97.	Vogelaar FJ, Mesker WE, Rijken AM, van Pelt GW, van Leeuwen AM, Tanke HJ, Tollenaar RA and Liefers GJ: Clinical impact of different detection methods for disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow of patients undergoing surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases: a prospective follow-up study. BMC Cancer. 10:1532010. View Article : Google Scholar
98.	Buxhofer-Ausch V, Ausch C, Kitzweger E, Mollik M, Reiner-Concin A, Ogris E, Stampfl M, Hamilton G, Schiessel R and Hinterberger W: Spontaneous changes in tumour cell dissemination to bone marrow in colorectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 12:776–782. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
99.	Hinz S, Bockholst J, Roder C, Egberts JH, Schafmayer C, Küchler T, Becker T and Kalthoff H: Disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow negatively influence survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases. Ann Surg Oncol. 19:2539–2546. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
100.	Yokoyama N, Shirai Y, Ajioka Y, Nagakura S, Suda T and Hatakeyama K: Immunohistochemically detected hepatic micrometastases predict a high risk of intrahepatic recurrence after resection of colorectal carcinoma liver metastases. Cancer. 94:1642–1647. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar
101.	Schimanski CC, Linnemann U, Galle PR, Arbogast R and Berger MR: Hepatic disseminated tumor cells in colorectal cancer UICC stage IV patients: Prognostic implications. Int J Oncol. 23:791–796. 2003.PubMed/NCBI
102.	Linnemann U, Schimanski CC, Gebhardt C and Berger MR: Prognostic value of disseminated colorectal tumor cells in the liver: results from follow-up examinations. Int J Colorectal Dis. 19:380–386. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
103.	Koch M, Kienle P, Logan E, Antolovic D, Galindo L, Schmitz-Winnenthal FH, Schmidt J, Herfarth C and Weitz J: Detection of disseminated tumor cells in liver biopsies of colorectal cancer patients is not associated with a worse prognosis. Ann Surg Oncol. 14:810–817. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
104.	Rahbari NN, Bork U, Motschall E, Thorlund K, Büchler MW, Koch M and Weitz J: Molecular detection of tumor cells in regional lymph nodes is associated with disease recurrence and poor survival in node-negative colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol. 30:60–70. 2012. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
105.	Braun S, Vogl FD, Naume B, Janni W, Osborne MP, Coombes RC, Schlimok G, Diel IJ, Gerber B, Gebauer G, Pierga JY, Marth C, Oruzio D, Wiedswang G, Solomayer EF, Kundt G, Strobl B, Fehm T, Wong GY, Bliss J, Vincent-Salomon A and Pantel K: A pooled analysis of bone marrow micrometastasis in breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 353:793–802. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
106.	Rahbari NN, Aigner M, Thorlund K, Mollberg N, Motschall E, Jensen K, Diener MK, Büchler MW, Koch M and Weitz J: Meta-analysis shows that detection of circulating tumor cells indicates poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology. 138:1714–1726. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
107.	Peach G, Kim C, Zacharakis E, Purkayastha S and Ziprin P: Prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells following surgical resection of colorectal cancers: a systematic review. Br J Cancer. 102:1327–1334. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
108.	Allard WJ, Matera J, Miller MC, Repollet M, Connelly MC, Rao C, Tibbe AG, Uhr JW and Terstappen LW: Tumor cells circulate in the peripheral blood of all major carcinomas but not in healthy subjects or patients with nonmalignant diseases. Clin Cancer Res. 10:6897–6904. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
109.	Budd GT, Cristofanilli M, Ellis MJ, Stopeck A, Borden E, Miller MC, Matera J, Repollet M, Doyle GV, Terstappen LW and Hayes DF: Circulating tumor cells versus imaging - predicting overall survival in metastatic breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 12:6403–6409. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
110.	Hayes DF, Cristofanilli M, Budd GT, Ellis MJ, Stopeck A, Miller MC, Matera J, Allard WJ, Doyle GV and Terstappen LW: Circulating tumor cells at each follow-up time point during therapy of metastatic breast cancer patients predict progression-free and overall survival. Clin Cancer Res. 12:4218–4224. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
111.	Riethdorf S, Fritsche H, Muller V, Rau T, Schindlbeck C, Rack B, Janni W, Coith C, Beck K, Jänicke F, Jackson S, Gornet T, Cristofanilli M and Pantel K: Detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood of patients with metastatic breast cancer: a validation study of the CellSearch System. Clin Cancer Res. 13:920–928. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
112.	Naoe M, Ogawa Y, Morita J, Omori K, Takeshita K, Shichijyo T, Okumura T, Igarashi A, Yanaihara A, Iwamoto S, Fukagai T, Miyazaki A and Yoshida H: Detection of circulating urothelial cancer cells in the blood using the CellSearch System. Cancer. 109:1439–1445. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI