Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
El-Heliebi, A.
Genetic and cytomorphological characterization of circulating tumor cells in patients with renal tumors
[ Dissertation ] Medical University of Graz; 2013. pp. 77
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- El-Heliebi Amin
- Betreuer*innen:
- Huppertz Berthold
- Lackner Karoline
- Petek Erwin
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- Abstract:
- Background: Single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating tumor microemboli (CTMs) are potential biomarkers of renal cell cancer (RCC); however, studies on CTCs/CTMs in RCC are limited. The aim of this dissertation was to evaluate a novel blood filtration technique suited for cytomorphological classification, immunocytochemical and molecular characterization of filtered, so called circulating non-hematologic cells (CNHCs) - putative CTCs/CTMs - in patients with RCC. Methods: Blood of 40 patients with renal tumors was subjected to ScreenCell® filtration. CNHCs were classified according to cytomorphological criteria. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed with antibodies against CD45, CD31 and carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX, a RCC marker). DNA of selected CNHCs and respective primary tumors was analysed by array-CGH. Results: CNHC-clusters with malignant or uncertain malignant cytomorphological features - putative CTMs - were negative for CD45, positive for CD31, while only 6% were CAIX positive. Array-CGH revealed that 83% of malignant and uncertain malignant cells represented a balanced genome whereas 17% presented genomic DNA imbalances which did not match the aberrations of the primary tumors. Putative single CTCs were negative for CD45, 33% were positive for CD31 and 56% were positive for CAIX. Conclusions: The majority of CNHC-clusters, putative CTMs, retrieved by ScreenCell® filtration, may be of endothelial origin. Morphological criteria seem to be insufficient to distinguish malignant from non-malignant circulating cells in patients with renal cancer.