Review Article

Expression of Stem Cell and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Circulating Tumor Cells of Breast Cancer Patients

Table 2

Detection and characterization methods of CTCs.

MethodReferenceBased onDetection markerCharacterization marker

AdnaTest Breast Cancer[60, 65, 66]PCREpCAM, MUC1MUC1, GA733-2, HER2
AdnaTest EMT-1/stem cell[17, 20]PCREpCAM, MUC1TWIST, Akt2, PI3K, ALDH1
CellSearch CTC Kit[24, 61, 62]AntibodyEpCAMCK 8, CK 18, CK 19, CD45, DAPI, HER2, EGFR, CD44
CellSearch Profile Kit[63, 64]AntibodyEpCAMTo be determined; for example, ALDH1
CTC-Chip[67]AntibodyEpCAMCytokeratin, CD45, DAPI
Ficoll/immunocytochemistry[58, 59, 73, 79]AntibodyTo be determined; for example, EpCAM, CytokeratinTo be determined; for example, CD44, CD24, ALDH1
Filtration[70, 71]FiltrationTo be determined; for example, CK 8, CK 18, CK 19, CD45To be determined
Flow cytometry[80]AntibodyEpCAM, ALDH1CD44, CD24
Herringbone-chip[68, 69]AntibodyEpCAM, HER2, EGFREpCAM, CK 5, CK 7, CK 8, CK 18, CK 19, cadherin 1, cadherin 2, SERPINE1/PAI1, fibronectin 1