Are morphological criteria sufficient for the identification of circulating tumor cells in renal cancer?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating tumor microemboli (CTMs) are potential biomarkers of renal cell cancer (RCC), however studies of CTCs/CTMs in RCC are limited. In this pilot study we aimed to evaluate a novel blood filtration technique suited for cytomorphological classification, immunocytochemical and molecular characterization of filtered, so called circulating non-hematologic cells (CNHCs) - putative CTCs/CTMs - in patients with RCC.

METHODS:

Blood of 40 patients with renal tumors was subjected to ScreenCell filtration. CNHCs were classified according to cytomorphological criteria. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed with antibodies against CD45, CD31 and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX, a RCC marker). DNA of selected CNHCs and respective primary tumors was analysed by array-CGH.

RESULTS:

CNHC-clusters with malignant or uncertain malignant cytomorphological features - putative CTMs - were negative for CD45, positive for CD31, while only 6% were CAIX positive. Array-CGH revealed that 83% of malignant and uncertain malignant cells did represent with a balanced genome whereas 17% presented genomic DNA imbalances which did not match the aberrations of the primary tumors. Putative single CTCs were negative for CD45, 33% were positive for CD31 and 56% were positive for CAIX.

CONCLUSIONS:

The majority of CNHC-clusters, putative CTMs, retrieved by ScreenCell filtration may be of endothelial origin. Morphological criteria seem to be insufficient to distinguish malignant from non-malignant cells in renal cancer.

• Authors: Amin El-Heliebi, Thomas Kroneis, Evelyn Zöhrer, Johannes Haybaeck, Katja Fischereder, Karin Kampel-Kettner, Richard Zigeuner, Hannelore Pock, Regina Riedl, Rudolf Stauber, Jochen Bernd Geigl, Berthold Huppertz, Peter Sedlmayr, Carolin Lackner
• Journal: Journal of translational medicine (J Transl Med) Vol. 11 Pg. 214 (Sep 17 2013) ISSN: 1479-5876 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24044779 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• DNA, Neoplasm
• Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Renal Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Count
• Cell Shape
• Cohort Studies
• Comparative Genomic Hybridization
• DNA, Neoplasm (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Kidney Neoplasms (pathology)
• Laser Capture Microdissection
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplastic Cells, Circulating (pathology)
• Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (metabolism)
• Time Factors