Abstract 7508: Distribution prophecy of circulating tumor cell clusters in CTC populace patients of epithelial cancers
Authors: Khandare Jayant , Aland Gourishankar , Khutale Ganesh , Andhari Saloni , Patil Prathamesh , Garbhe Meghna , Dongare Manoj , Deshpande Tanvi , Jadhav Vikas , Raut Nirmal , Shafi Gowhar , Bharde Atul , Vasudevan Aravindan , Jayant Sreeja 
Published: March 2024

Background: Role of CTCs in metastatic cancers to predict the % prediction of overall survival has been well-established. The effectiveness of three- or six-months adjuvant therapy in colorectal cancer estimation showed association of CTCs with the emergence of resistant cell clones. The presence of CTCs with clusters indicates an aggressiveness of the epithelial cancers. However, the presence of CTC clusters has not been evaluated in large populations. Here, we demonstrate the distribution prophecy of CTCs and CTC clusters in epithelial cancer patients.

Methods: Retrospectively, 3458 patients' blood sample was analyzed for the presence and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters using DCGI approved OncoDiscover platform having immunomagnetic multicomponent system mediated by anti EpCAM antibody. 1.5 mL of peripheral blood was analyzed to capture cells and clusters from Head & Neck, breast, and lung cancer patients. Earlier the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of OncoDiscover assay was presented. CTCs and clusters were identified with CK 18 +ve, DAPI + ve and CD45 -ve staining using automated motorized fluorescence microscopy. CTCs clusters were defined by the presence of two or more CTCs bound together.

Results: Out of 3458 epithelial cancer patients, 65.52 % patients showed the distribution of CTCs ~ 2262 (CTC numbers varied from 1-9/1.5 mL), while 7.54% patients showed CTC clusters (261 clusters). Total number of captured CTCs and clusters were 19345 (mean CTCs and cluster distribution was 5.59), while CTC were predominantly in 19037 numbers (98.41%) and clusters were 308 (1.59 %). Highest number of CTS were observed in HNC (52.98%) and breast cancers (22.75%), followed by lung cancer (5.65%). While, prophecy clusters were observed in breast cancers (26.95%), followed by lung (16.23%).

Conclusions: The frequency and distribution of CTCs and CTC clusters was evaluated in epithelial cancers. Patients with CTC alone and patients having CTCs as well CTC clusters represent more aggressive disease and the progression of disease. The effectiveness of adjuvant therapy in epithelial cancers can be estimated with CTC and cluster for association of treatment outmoded with an emergence of resistant cell clones.

Citation Format: Jayant Khandare, Gourishankar Aland, Ganesh Khutale, Saloni Andhari, Prathamesh Patil, Meghna Garbhe, Manoj Dongare, Tanvi Deshpande, Vikas Jadhav, Nirmal Raut, Gowhar Shafi, Atul Bharde, Aravindan Vasudevan, Sreeja Jayant. Distribution prophecy of circulating tumor cell clusters in CTC populace patients of epithelial cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7508.