Jiang Miao, Jin Shuiling, Han Jinming, Li Tong, Shi Jianxiang, Zhong Qian, Li Wen, Tang Wenxue, Huang Qinqin, Zong Hong
Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, NO.1 Eastern Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
BGI College, Zhengzhou University, 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
Biomark Res. 2021 Nov 19;9(1):85. doi: 10.1186/s40364-021-00326-4.
Histopathological examination (biopsy) is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, biopsy is an invasive method, and due to the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the tumor, a single biopsy cannot reveal the comprehensive biological characteristics and dynamic changes of the tumor. Therefore, there is a need for new biomarkers to improve CRC diagnosis and to monitor and treat CRC patients. Numerous studies have shown that "liquid biopsy" is a promising minimally invasive method for early CRC detection. A liquid biopsy mainly samples circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNA (miRNA) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). CTCs are malignant cells that are shed from the primary tumors and/or metastases into the peripheral circulation. CTCs carry information on both primary tumors and metastases that can reflect dynamic changes in tumors in a timely manner. As a promising biomarker, CTCs can be used for early disease detection, treatment response and disease progression evaluation, disease mechanism elucidation, and therapeutic target identification for drug development. This review will discuss currently available technologies for plasma CTC isolation and detection, their utility in the management of CRC patients and future research directions.
组织病理学检查（活检）是结直肠癌（CRC）诊断的“金标准”。然而，活检是一种侵入性方法，并且由于肿瘤的时空异质性，单次活检无法揭示肿瘤的全面生物学特征和动态变化。因此，需要新的生物标志物来改善CRC的诊断以及监测和治疗CRC患者。大量研究表明，“液体活检”是一种用于早期CRC检测的有前景的微创方法。液体活检主要采集循环肿瘤细胞（CTC）、循环肿瘤DNA（ctDNA）、微小RNA（miRNA）和细胞外囊泡（EV）。CTC是从原发性肿瘤和/或转移灶脱落进入外周循环的恶性细胞。CTC携带原发性肿瘤和转移灶的信息，能够及时反映肿瘤的动态变化。作为一种有前景的生物标志物，CTC可用于疾病早期检测、治疗反应和疾病进展评估、疾病机制阐明以及药物研发的治疗靶点识别。本综述将讨论目前用于血浆CTC分离和检测的技术、它们在CRC患者管理中的效用以及未来的研究方向。
