Diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating tumor cells in Indian women with suspected ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND

"Liquid biopsy," where body fluids are screened for biomarkers, is gathering substantial research. We aimed to examine women with suspected ovarian cancer for the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and study its role in prediction of chemoresistance and survival.

METHODS

Magnetic powder labeled monoclonal antibodies for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), mucin 1 cell surface associated, mucin 16 cell surface associated, or carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), were prepared according to the manufacturer's protocol. Expression of three ovarian cancer related genes was detected in CTCs using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CTCs and serum CA125 were measured in 100 patients with suspected ovarian cancer. Correlations with clinicopathological parameters and treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

CTCs were detected in 18/70 (25.7%) of women with malignancy compared to 0/30 (0.0%) in those with benign gynecologic diseases (P = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the CTC test for predicting a malignant histology in pelvic masses were 27.7% (95% CI: 16.3%, 37.7%) and 100% (95% CI: 85.8%, 100%), respectively. The number of CTCs correlated with stage of ovarian cancer (P = 0.030). The presence of EpCAM + CTC at primary diagnosis in ovarian cancer was found to be an independent predictor of a poor progression free survival (HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4; P = 0.010), overall survival (HR, 2.6; 95% CI,1.1-5.6; P = 0.019), and resistance to chemotherapy (OR 8.6; 95% CI, 1.8-43.7; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Expression of EpCAM + CTC in ovarian cancer predicts platinum resistance and poor prognosis. This information could be further used in investigating anti-EpCAM-targeted therapies in ovarian cancer.