Study: Circulating Tumor Cells No Indicator of Colorectal Cancer Recurrence

While molecular biology now makes it possible to detect tumor cells that are circulating in the blood of patients after they have been operated on for colorectal cancer, researchers report that finding such cells has no significance in predicting tumor recurrence or patient survival.

The researchers analyzed blood samples taken from 66 patients 24 hours after they had been operated on for colorectal cancer for the presence of circulating tumor cells. In some cases, they said, these cells may have been detached by the surgery.

After a median follow-up of 36 months, 15 of the patients had a recurrence of colorectal cancer and 14 had died, 8 of them from a cancer-related cause. They researchers said the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes was linked to a higher risk of tumor recurrence.

"But more importantly, the presence of circulating tumor cells after surgery had no prognostic influence on tumor recurrence, overall survival, or cancer-related survival," the researchers reported in the journal Annals of Surgery. "Postoperative detection of blood circulating tumor cells had no prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer operated on for cure."

Other sources: Annals of Surgery