Detection and clinical implication of minimal residual cancer cells in patients with solid tumors / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

After surgical removal of a primary tumor the minimal residual cancer cells (MRCC) and metastases derived thereof are the actual targets for all theraputic approaches. Due to the great sensitivity and PCR-based detection systems, the molecular characterization of MRCC can provide information about their metastatic potential, availability of drug targets, drug sensitivity and development of therapy resistance, which will close the analytical gap between primary disease and the detection of metastases by conventional methods such as imaging procedures, and this will help therapy selection, monitoring of the treatment effects and predicting of the prognosis. Patients will benefit from a individualized therapy in the end.