Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Cancer Cell Biology
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1498032

Unveiling the Dynamics of Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer: From Biology to Clinical Applications

Provisionally accepted
Claudia Dompé Claudia Dompé 1*Aleksandra Chojnowska Aleksandra Chojnowska 1Rodryg Ramlau Rodryg Ramlau 1Michal Nowicki Michal Nowicki 1Catherine Alix-Panabières Catherine Alix-Panabières 2,3Joanna Budna-Tukan Joanna Budna-Tukan 1
  • 1 Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
  • 2 University Medical Center of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
  • 3 Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This review delves into the pivotal role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis, focusing on their biological properties, interactions with the immune system, advanced detection techniques, and clinical implications. We explored how metastasis-competent CTCs evade immune surveillance and proliferate, utilizing cutting-edge detection and isolation technologies, such as microfluidic devices and immunological assays, to enhance sensitivity and specificity. The review highlights the significant impact of CTC interactions with immune cells on tumor progression and patient outcomes. It discusses the application of these findings in clinical settings, including noninvasive liquid biopsies for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Despite advancements, challenges remain, such as the need for standardized methods to consistently capture and analyze CTCs. Addressing these challenges through further molecular and cellular research on CTCs could lead to improved interventions and outcomes for CRC patients, underscoring the importance of unraveling the complex dynamics of CTCs in cancer progression.

    Keywords: circulating tumor cells, colorectal cancer, metastasis, liquid biopsy, cancer cell biology

    Received: 19 Sep 2024; Accepted: 18 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Dompé, Chojnowska, Ramlau, Nowicki, Alix-Panabières and Budna-Tukan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Claudia Dompé, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.