Cancer Diagnosis Program | Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch

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Circulating tumor cells and sample size: the more, the better.

Author(s): Lalmahomed ZS, Kraan J, Gratama JW, Mostert B, Sleijfer S, Verhoef C

Publication: J Clin Oncol, 2010, Vol. 28, Page e288-9; author reply e290

PubMed ID: 20439640 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   This study explored how the volume of peripheral blood used may influence the number of CTCs detected by the CellSearch method. Forty mL of peripheral arterial blood was collected in 10 mL CellSave tubes from 15 patients undergoing liver resection and/or open radio frequency ablation prior to surgery. Blood was pooled, stored at room temperature, and processed within 72 hours of collection. A 30 ml aliquot and a 7.5 ml aliquot was analyzed for each patient. Each 30 ml aliquot was subjected to a modified Ficoll density gradient separation, which resulted in a reduced volume of 7.5 mL of enriched blood to permit analysis by CellSearch.

   Summary of Findings:

   The median number of CTCs recovered from peripheral blood was statistically higher for 30 mL aliquots than 7.5 mL aliquots (two CTCs versus one CTC, range 0-9 versus 0-4, P=.03) and the median paired difference between the two volumes was one (range of -1 to 7). Further, CTCs were detected in a higher percentage of patients when using blood enriched from a 30 mL aliquot compared to the 7.5 mL aliquot (≥1 CTC were detected in 87% versus 67% of patients and ≥3 CTCs detected in 47% compared to 13% of patients, respectively).

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Blood

   Preservative Types

   • Other Preservative

   Diagnoses:

   • Neoplastic - Carcinoma

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Cell count/volume	Light microscopy

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Aliquots and Components	Aliquot size/volume	7.5 mL 30 mL

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