Circulating Tumor Cells ( Ctcs )

(p133-134, text). * Define metastasis. * Development of a secondary tumor in a location distant from the primary tumor. * Accomplished via lymphatic channels and circulation. * Trace the pathways for the hematologic and lymphatic spread of metastatic cancer cells. Evidence of disseminate disease presence in lymph that drain the tumor area, tumor cells lodge first in the initial lymph node that receives drainage from the tumor site, once in this lymph node cells may die b/c of the lack of a proper environment, remain dormant for unknown reasons, or grow in a discernible mass, If they survive and grow cancer cells, may spread from more distant lymph nodes to the thoracic duct, and the gain access to the blood vasculature, cancer cells may gain access to the blood vasculature from the initial node and more distant lymph nodes by way of tumor-associated blood vessels that may infiltrate the tumor mass. Sentinel

Cancer, medically called ‘tumorigenesis’ (Thaker, Lutgendorf, & Sood, 2007, p.430) occurs when cells in the body orient themselves for malignant growth. Such cells show ‘self-sufficiency in growth signals’, are ‘insensitive to anti-growth signals’ and have ‘limitless replicative potential’ (Thaker, Lutgendorf, & Sood, 2007, p.430). Once a particular set of cells become malignant, the malignancy can spread to other set of cells in different organs due to ‘crosstalk’ between the affected cells and their surrounding ‘tissues’ and ‘micro-environments’(Thaker, Lutgendorf, & Sood, 2007, p.430).

Some have argued that important information related to the way in which, and the rapidity in which, cancer cells metastases has been obtained by this study. But this has been highly debated (Standler, 1997).

∆CT Comparison between Asthmatic (A) and Non-Asthmatic (N) Epithelial Cells. Gene expression as normalized to β-actin, a housekeeping gene, in media (baseline expression). N epithelial cells are from a non-asthmatic donor, and A epithelial cells are from an asthmatic donor. CT is the threshold concentration at which PCR product is detectable. ∆CT = CTgene of interest – CThousekeeping gene (ß-actin). (Higher ∆CT reflects log2 lower concentrations.)

When cancer develops, it typically forms in one part of the body. This site is known as the primary site. Unlike other cells in the body, cancer cells can break away from the primary site and travel to other parts o...

Angiogenesis must be present for this occur, allowing cancer to spread to the blood, "thus the higher the density of new blood vessels within some tumors, the higher is the risk of metastasis of that tumor" (Mandal, 2014). Tumors have been documented to grow and spread without a direct blood supply and due to this physicians' are trying to discover ways to block tumor angiogenesis by investigating natural and synthetic inhibitors called "antiangiogenic agents" (National Cancer Institute, 2011). The goal is to slow the growth of cancer or prevent the disease entirely. According to the National Cancer Institute, "when vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other endothelial growth factors bind to their receptors on endothelial cells, signals within these cells are initiated that promote the growth and survival of new blood vessels" (2011, p. 1).

Tumor profiling is another form of advancement to help cure breast cancer. Tumor profiling allows researchers to better understand the genes in cancer cells. In this article found on the Susan G. Koman website, the ability to profile thousands of genes found in tumors is helpful in determining how likely breast cancer will reoccur and probable treatment. “The gene profiles of some tumors may help predict whether the cancer is more likely to recur and metastasize. Tumors with gene profiles showing a high risk of breast cancer recurrence or metastasis may be more likely to benefit from chemotherapy than tumors with gene profiles showing a low risk” (Susan G. Koman).

CBC (Complete Blood Count): This blood test measures the amount of various types of blood cells in a sample of the blood. Blood cancers may be detected using this test if too many or too few of a type of blood cell or abnormal cells are found. A bone marrow biopsy may help confirm a diagnosis of a blood cancer ("Leukemia Home Page - National Cancer Institute").

Cancer cells can intrude other tissues in different forms (sheets, clusters, or singular cells) (INSERT REFERENCE HERE). As the cancer cells manifest, its morphology will change, which includes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mesenchymal to amoeboid transition (MAT) and collective to amoeboid transition (CAT).

Each day, hundreds of people find themselves face to face with the word “cancer.” There is an estimate of 4600 new cancer diagnosis each day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the united states, and is a major health concern worldwide. However, over the past 3 decades the survival rate for all cancers has climbed over 20%.

Another biomarker that can be observed in response to cancer is ct-DNA. Ct-DNA refers to fragments of DNA from tumors found circulating in the blood stream. A recent study indicated that observing ct-DNA could have multiple useful applications for oncologists. Ct-DNA analysis during treatment could serve as an indication of how tumors react to treatment methods and whether recurrence is likely. Detecting ct-DNA in the bloodstream could even serve as an early sign of cancer, observable before imaging tests even show tumors. However, ct-DNA analysis has not yet proved to be a replacement for LDCT

Distant spread of primary malignant cells to local and distant sites was explained by several models. Cumulative research shows a pivotal role of tumor microenvironment in the process of malignant cell dissemination. This role occurs through angiogenesis and epithelial-stromal interactions, via the paracrine secretion of growth factors by stromal cells, which induce an epithelial-mesenchymal transition in neighboring epithelial cells. This result in the increased migration of epithelial cells [3].

This ability of malign cancer to make their way across basement membrane and into blood vessels is what makes cancer so fatal and impossible to be cure by surgery alone. The result of metastasis and invasion in normal tissue by cancer cells are often seen as one of the distinctive features of malignancy (Ruoslahti 1996). Even though the ability of invasion and metastasis are one of the hallmarks for cancer, these abilities are not unique to cancer cells as it can also occur during the early development stage of the embryo, in healthy organisms and in many noncancerous diseases (Mareel & Leroy 2003). It does not matter whenever the organism has developed benign or malign cancer, all cancer cells have the ability to disturb the normal cell cycle and threaten the survival of the organism.

The tumor needs blood flow to survive so they try and attract the blood vessels to grow into the tumor to keep it alive. The blood vessels usually don’t grow very far into the tumor causing it to lack the nutrients of the blood. The tumor gets oxygen and glucose from the bloodstream. The tumors also have to figure out how to get rid of wastes and carbon dioxide. So in all the blood vessels are very important to the cancer cells because the blood stream brings out all the toxic waste for the tumor so that it doesn't

When RBCs are suspended in an isotonic solution, nothing should be observed as there will be no net water movement between the RBCs and the solution. Thus, when 200 µL of blood was added to 10mL isotonic saline (0,154 M NaCl), voltage of 0V is recorded. When RBCs are suspended in a hypertonic solution, for instance, 0.4 M NaCl, RBCs shrunk due to decrease in cell volume as water diffused out of the cells by osmosis. The protein concentration within the cells become greater and more light is scattered and a negative