J Dig Cancer Res.  2023 Apr;11(1):21-29. 10.52927/jdcr.2023.11.1.21.

Clinical Utility of Portal Venous Circulating Tumor Cells in Pancreatic Cancer

• Yoon SB
• Ko SW

• KMID: 2541624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52927/jdcr.2023.11.1.21

Abstract

Despite recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, clinical results remain dismal. Furthermore, there are no reliable biomarkers or alternatives beyond carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may be a potential biomarker, but their therapeutic application is constrained by their rarity in peripheral venous blood. Theoretically, the portal vein can be a more appropriate location for the detection of CTCs, because the first venous drainage of pancreatic cancer is portal circulation. According to several studies, the number and detection rate of CTCs may be higher in the portal blood than in the peripheral blood. CTC counts in the portal blood are strongly correlated with several prognostic parameters such as hepatic metastasis, recurrence after surgery, and survival. The phenotypic and genotypic properties analyzed in the captured portal CTCs can assist us to comprehend tumor heterogeneity and predicting the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. The investigations to date are limited by small sample sizes and varied CTC detection techniques. Therefore, a large number of prospective studies are required to confirm portal CTCs as a valid biomarker in pancreatic cancer.

Keyword

Neoplastic cells; circulating; Pancreatic neoplasms; Portal vein