Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in breast cancer was the focus of a German SUCCESS trial that was presented at the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December.

Studies show that CTCs in the blood can be used to predict recurrence and death in patients with early-stage breast cancer. The presence of 1 to 4 CTCs was associated with nearly double the risk of cancer relapse and death, while ≥5 CTCs was associated with a 400% increase in recurrence and a 300% increase in death, according to an analysis of the SUCCESS study.

The SUCCESS trial, which enrolled 2026 patients, was designed to look for CTCs and tumor markers in the blood using CellSearch technology at four different time points: before chemotherapy, after chemotherapy, after two years of endocrine/zoledronic acid treatment, and after five years of endocrine/zoledronic acid treatment.  

For more information about CTCs and CellSearch, contact one of our technical service specialists at 800.932.2943.