Isolation and morphology of circulating tumor cells by cell block technique in breast cancer

• Published in: Indian journal of pathology & microbiology Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 329 - 333
• Main Authors: Agrawal, Nandini, Punia, Rajpal, Handa, Uma, Attri, Ashok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-04-2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biopsy; Biopsy, Fine-Needle - methods; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle - methods; Blood circulation; Breast cancer; Breast carcinoma; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; cell block (cb); Chemotherapy; circulating tumor cells (ctcs); core needle biopsy (cnb); Cytology; Female; fine-needle aspiration (fna); Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology; Mammography; Markers; Metastases; Metastasis; Methods; Middle Aged; Morphology; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating - pathology; Peripheral blood; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Tumor cells; Tumors; fine-needle aspiration (FNA); core needle biopsy (CNB); Breast carcinoma; circulating tumor cells (CTCs); cell block (CB)
• ISSN: 0377-4929; 0974-5130
• DOI: 10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_855_20

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells present in the blood stream that are antigenically or genetically similar to a specific tumor type and are markers of tumor diagnosis, prognosis, residual disease and metastasis. The ever-increasing burden of breast cancer globally warrants the incorporation of this all-inclusive marker in the diagnostic repertoire using the simplest of techniques. Aims: To identify CTCs in peripheral blood by cell block (CB) technique in cases of breast cancer diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) and to correlate their presence with nodal metastasis. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, at a tertiary care hospital. Peripheral blood samples from a total of 30 cases of primary breast carcinoma diagnosed on FNA or CNB without prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed using the CB technique. Results: The age ranged between 29-74 years with the most common presenting complaint being a palpable, single, unilateral breast lump. CTCs were detected in 2 (6.7%) cases with a <5 cell cluster with both the cases being grade I breast carcinomas and also displaying nodal metastasis.