Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have a crucial role in the metastatic cascade, tumor dissemination and progression. Furthermore, CTCs are involved in treatment failure, therapy resistance and disease progression. New therapeutic possibilities are offered by the established clinical prognostic and predictive value of CTCs with the additional possibility of using them for the real-time monitoring of systemic-therapy efficacy. This Review discusses the future clinical applications of CTCs in breast cancer including the incorporation of CTCs as end points in clinical trials and the blockade of tumor dissemination and self seeding via the therapeutic targeting of CTCs.
- Michal Mego
- Sendurai A. Mani
- Massimo Cristofanilli
