Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells released from the primary and metastatic tumor and intravasate into the blood or lymphatic vessels, where they are transported to distant sites and act as seeds that initiate cancer metastases or the development of further lesions. Recent advances in CTC research have shown their relevance as prognostic markers for early and metastatic disease detection, predictive biomarkers for relapse, and response to medical intervention or therapy. The rapidly evolving landscape of CTC biology has opened new avenues for understanding cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment response. Additionally, translating these findings into clinical applications holds promise for improving cancer diagnostics, prognosis, and personalized therapeutic strategies. This review discusses the significance of CTCs in cancer research and their associated challenges. We explore recent developments in the detection and characterization of CTCs and their implications in cancer research and clinical practice.
循环肿瘤细胞（CTCs）是从原发性和转移性肿瘤中释放并侵入血液或淋巴管的细胞，它们被运输到远处部位，作为启动癌症转移或进一步病变发展的种子。CTC研究的最新进展表明，它们作为早期和转移性疾病检测的预后标志物、复发预测生物标志物以及对医疗干预或治疗反应的预测指标具有重要意义。CTC生物学的快速发展为理解癌症进展、转移和治疗反应开辟了新途径。此外，将这些发现转化为临床应用有望改善癌症诊断、预后和个性化治疗策略。本综述讨论了CTCs在癌症研究中的重要性及其相关挑战，并探讨了CTCs检测和表征的最新进展及其在癌症研究和临床实践中的意义。
Advancements in Circulating Tumor Cell Research: Bridging Biology and Clinical Applications
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家