Circulating tumor cell detection methods in renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Vol. 161; p. 103331
• Main Authors: Palmela Leitão, Tito, Miranda, Miguel, Polido, Joana, Morais, João, Corredeira, Patrícia, Alves, Patrícia, Oliveira, Tiago, Pereira e Silva, Ricardo, Fernandes, Ricardo, Ferreira, João, Palma Reis, José, Lopes, Tomé, Costa, Luís
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-05-2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biomarker; Circulating tumor cells; Liquid biopsy; Metastases; Renal cell carcinoma; Liquid biopsy; Biomarker; Circulating tumor cells; Renal cell carcinoma; Metastases
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103331

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•Circulating tumor cells may prove to be the missing renal cell carcinoma biomarker.•Research is still in an exploratory phase and detection methods lack standardization.•No single detection platform or molecular marker has proven to be superior.•Highly sensitive methods seem to detect circulating cells in all cancer patients.•Cell counts and detection rates correlate with staging and survival outcomes.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have a potential role as the missing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) biomarker. However, the available evidence is limited, and detection methods lack standardization, hindering clinical use. We performed a systematic review on CTC enrichment and detection methods, and its role as a biomarker in RCC. Full-text screening identified 54 studies. Reviewed studies showed wide heterogeneity, low evidence level, and high risk of bias. Various CTC detection platforms and molecular markers have been used, but none has proven to be superior. CTC detection and CTC count seem to correlate with staging and survival outcomes, although evidence is inconsistent. CTC research is still in an exploratory phase, particularly in RCC. Further studies are still necessary to achieve a standardization of techniques, molecular markers, CTC definitions, and terminology. This is essential to ascertain the role of CTCs as a biomarker and guide future liquid biopsy research in RCC.