Integrin α6 β4 on circulating tumor cells of metastatic breast cancer patients

Background: The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is prognostic during the disease in women with metastatic breast cancer. Integrins are key role players in nearly every step of cancer progression. In this study, we aimed to analyze integrin alpha6beta4 expression on CTCs isolated from blood samples of patients with advanced breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this single-center study, peripheral blood samples from 23 breast cancer patients were obtained and analyzed for the presence of CTCs by EasySep™ Direct Human CTC Enrichment Kit combined with subsequent immunocytochemical staining of anti-cytokeratin and anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecules, and β4 integrin on CTCs. Data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: CTCs were detected in 100% of the patients. The ratio of integrin β4+ CTC was 61% ± 8% of total CTCs. No significant correlation between histopathological parameters and CTC detection was found. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the importance of α6 β4 integrin expression on CTCs in distant metastasis