中文

Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2022, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (5): 347-356.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2022.02.010

• Review Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Circulating tumor cells and tumor precision medicine

ZHANG Tianran①②③ ，GAO Zhengliang①② ，DENG dan④   

  1. ①Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong), School of medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong 226011, Jiangsu Province, China; ②Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 201619, China; ③Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; ④Department of Dermatology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Received:2021-12-01 Online:2022-10-25 Published:2022-05-05

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2046

Abstract: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were first discovered in 1869 but the clinical significance was not well appreciated. Over the past two decades, with rapid progresses in their biology and related technologies CTCs have reemerged as a major biomedical advance with great promises in tumor precision medicine. In this article, we start with introducing CTCs, their related CTC clusters and biology—origination, dissemination through circulation, heterogeneity, and their roles in tumor progression and metastasis. We then continue to detail the technological advances with CTC isolation, purification and characterization based on its biology characteristics. In the end, we discuss the potential clinical applications of CTCs in tumor precision and/or personalized medicine.