Circulating tumour cells in regionally metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study

// Tia Morosin 1 , Bruce Ashford 2, 3, 4, 5 , Marie Ranson 2, 3, 5 , Ruta Gupta 6, 7 , Jonathan Clark 8, 9, 10, 11 , N. Gopalakrishna Iyer 12 , Kevin Spring 5, 10, 13 1 Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia 3 Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia 4 Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia 5 Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia 6 Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia 7 The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 8 Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia 9 Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 10 South West Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia 11 Singhealth/Duke-NUS Head and Neck Center, National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS), 169610, Singapore 12 Medical Oncology Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia 13 Liverpool Clinical School, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, NSW 1871, Australia Correspondence to: Bruce Ashford, email: bgashford@gmail.com Keywords: circulating tumour cells (CTCs), metastases, cutaneous, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), head and neck Received: February 25, 2016 Accepted: April 16, 2016 Published: June 11, 2016 ABSTRACT Background: Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are increasingly being used in the surveillance of cancer, allowing for potential early detection and real-time monitoring of disease progression. The presence of CTCs in patients with metastatic cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cHNSCC) has not been evaluated. Results: CTCs were detected in eight of ten patients with regional metastatic cHNSCC (80%; range 1–44 cells/9 mL blood). CTMs were detected in three of ten patients (30%, range 1–4 cells/9 mL blood). Methods: Preoperative blood samples from ten patients with nodal metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) were analyzed using the IsoFlux TM System for the detection and enumeration of CTCs and circulating tumour microemboli (CTMs). Conclusions: For the first time CTCs have been detected in patients with nodal metastases from cHNSCC. Further work is required to understand their prognostic significance and potential to directly influence clinical practice.