Fig. 2
From: Sampling circulating tumor cells for clinical benefits: how frequent?
Case studies of CTC count patterns in cancer patients. a CTC count pattern of a metastatic breast cancer patient from Marsland and Schuur [19]. CTC count patterns are simulated when the frequency of sampling is halved. Alternate time points were used for each simulation. PD indicates progressive disease and PR indicates partial response. b Longitudinal monitoring of CTC count and PSA level in a prostate cancer patient. CTCs were measured using the CellSearch assay. CTC count patterns are simulated when the frequency of sampling is halved. Alternate time points were used for each simulation. PD indicates progressive disease. c Longitudinal monitoring of CTC count and PSA level in a metastatic prostate cancer patient. CTCs were imaged at ×20 magnification and identified as Hoechst (blue) positive and CD45 (green) negative, and white blood cells (WBCs) as both Hoechst and CD45 positive. Some CTCs were also EpCAM/cytokeratin (red) positive, while WBCs were EpCAM/cytokeratin negative. The foremost graph shows concentration of PSA with time. The second graph behind shows the CTC count over time. The third to fifth graphs behind are representatives of simulated models for monthly CTC counting. The green circles represent sampling times. The proportion of simulations represented by each model is indicated as percentage. A [18F]NaF-PET bone scan in July 2012 vs. April 2012 showed progression of osseous disease including new lesions (as indicated by blue arrows)