Ces Urol 2024, 28(2):97-104 | DOI: 10.48095/cccu2024016

Circulating tumor cells in oncourology

Alžběta Kantorová, Viktor Soukup, Otakar Čapoun

Urologická klinika VFN a 1. LF UK, Praha

Kantorová A, Soukup V, Čapoun O. Circulating tumor cells in oncourology. In oncourology, we use a number of biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring treatment, predicting relapse or resistance to therapy. The most commonly used biomarker in oncourology is prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the treatment of prostate cancer. Other markers used in testicular tumours are alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD). For bladder cancer we use urine cytology test, which despite good sensitivity and specificity in detecting high-grade urothelial carcinomas has the disadvantage of low sensitivity in detecting low-grade lesions. However, we still lack specific biomarkers for other oncological diseases. Currently, research is being conducted on circulating tumour cells (CTCs), which are collected by a so-called "liquid biopsy" and could be promising biomarkers for a number of diseases. In this paper, we provide an overview of the current use of CTCs in oncourological diseases.

Keywords: Circulating tumour cells, liquid biopsy, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer.

Received: October 23, 2024; Revised: April 20, 2024; Accepted: June 17, 2024; Prepublished online: June 17, 2024; Published: July 1, 2024