Detection of epithelial cells in hematopoietic organs of patients with breast cancer - Physiopathological significance and clinical consequences

Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplastic disease in populations of dev eloped countries. it will affect 1 of every 6 or 7 women during their lifet ime. The disease eventually evolves to a metastatic stage, and currently ap pears to be not curable at that stage. Thus, understanding mechanisms that result in the establishment of tumor at sites distant from the primary loca tion is of the utmost importance. Equally important is the definition of a metastatic state, especially in regard to the detection of micrometastases. Finally, the presence of circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood o f patients who undergo progenitor mobilization, collection and reinfusion m ay be of clinical significance in the setting of high-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.