Clusters, Assemblies and Aggregates of Tumor Cells in the Blood of Breast Cancer Patients; Composition, Mode of Action, Detection and Impact on Metastasis and Survival

Abstract

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are gaining momentum as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic target. CTC clusters are more metastatic, but harder to study and characterize, because they are rare and the methods of isolation are mostly focused on single CTCs. This review highlights the recent advances to our understanding of tumor cell clusters with the emphasis on their composition, origin, biology, methods of detection, and impact on metastasis and survival. New approaches to therapy, based on cluster characteristics are also described.