Identification and Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells in Men Who Have Undergone Prostatectomy for Clinically Localized, High - Risk Prostate Cancer

ABSTRACTBackground:Approximately 15% of men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer have high-risk features that increase the risk of recurrence and metastasis. Better predictive biomarkers could allow for earlier detection of biochemical recurrence (BCR) and change surveillance and adjuvant treatment paradigms. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are thought to represent the earliest form of metastases, however their role as biomarkers in men with high-risk localized prostate cancer (HRLPCa) is not well defined.Methods:Blood samples from 37 patients with HRLPCa (Stage T3a or higher, Gleason score ≥8, or PSA ≥20 ng/ml), were obtained 2-5 months post prostatectomy. CTCs were enumerated using the Epic Sciences platform. Matched tumor and single CTC sequencing was performed.Results:CTCs were detected in 81.1% (30/37) of samples with a median of 2.4 CTCs/ml (range: 0–22.9). Patients with detectable CTCs exhibited a trend towards shorter recurrence times (p=0.12) and all patients with BCR had detectable CTCs. AR over-...