Toi M, Matsumoto G
Dept. of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital.
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2000 Aug;27(9):1315-36.
Recent advances in the detection of both isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in distant organs by means of immunocytochemical and molecular biological techniques have brought a new paradigm for the understanding of cancer biology. For instance, although the presence of a micrometastasis is a significant indicator of poor prognosis, it is now widely accepted that certain residual tumor cells remain dormant for a long period without any treatment. Many investigators have focused on what is different in the nature of the dormant and active tumor cells, and how microtumors can acquire the active phenotype in ectopic distant organs. In addition, information on both isolated tumor cells and micrometastases is useful not only for staging but also for considering an adjuvant treatment schedule. This review summarizes the recent clinical outcomes of the investigations of both isolated tumor cells and micrometastases.
通过免疫细胞化学和分子生物学技术检测远处器官中的孤立肿瘤细胞和微转移灶的最新进展，为理解癌症生物学带来了新的范例。例如，尽管微转移灶的存在是预后不良的重要指标，但现在人们普遍认为，某些残留肿瘤细胞在未经任何治疗的情况下可长期处于休眠状态。许多研究人员关注休眠和活跃肿瘤细胞的本质差异，以及微肿瘤如何在异位远处器官中获得活跃表型。此外，关于孤立肿瘤细胞和微转移灶的信息不仅对分期有用，而且对制定辅助治疗方案也有帮助。本综述总结了近期对孤立肿瘤细胞和微转移灶研究的临床结果。
