The Current Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in the Diagnosis and Management of Bone Metastases in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been used for over two decades as a serum marker for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Although PSA screening remains an important part of disease screening and monitoring in early prostate cancer (PC), its utility in monitoring disease progression in advanced PC is undetermined. Furthermore, the role of PSA monitoring in the management of patients with PC and bone metastases appears limited. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as potential novel biomarkers in advanced PC. We present a review of CTC testing and the clinical data supporting the prognostic potential of CTCs in this setting. We propose that combination of CTCs and PSA velocity or doubling-time assessments may offer insights into the prognosis and management of advanced PC.

Keywords:

• bone metastases
• circulating tumor cells
• metastatic prostate cancer
• prostate cancer
• prostate-specific antigen

Financial & competing interests disclosure

F Saad has received speaker honoraria and financial compensation for participating in advisory boards for Amgen Janssen and Novartis Corporation. K Pantel has received research grant and speaker honoraria from Veridex, and has received financial compensation for participation in advisory boards for Novartis Corporation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript. The authors thank J Solis for her medical and editorial assistance with this manuscript. Financial support for medical and editorial assistance was provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

Additional information

Funding

F Saad has received speaker honoraria and financial compensation for participating in advisory boards for Amgen Janssen and Novartis Corporation. K Pantel has received research grant and speaker honoraria from Veridex, and has received financial compensation for participation in advisory boards for Novartis Corporation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.