RATIONALE: Counting the number of circulating cancer cells in samples of blood from patients with metastatic cancer may help doctors find out how much the cancer has spread. PURPOSE: This research study is looking at the number of circulating cancer cells in patients with metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, or pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVES: * To assess frequency of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with metastatic ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and colon cancers. * To assess the variability in number of CTCs between patients with the same tumor type. * To correlate the number of CTCs with extent of tumor burden as measured by tumor markers, imaging, and the number of metastatic sites and proliferation and apoptotic markers. OUTLINE: Blood samples are collected before treatment and analyzed using molecular detection techniques to detect circulating cancer cells. Samples are assessed by immunofluorescence for markers of proliferation and survival (e.g., EGFR, phosphorylated EGFR, AKT, phosphorylated AKT, cytokeratins, MAPK, Src, and FAK).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Frequency of circulating cancer cells (CTC)
Time frame: 1 day
Variability in number of CTCs between patients with the same tumor type
Time frame: 1 day
Correlation of the number of CTCs with extent of tumor burden as measured by tumor markers, imaging, and the number of metastatic sites and proliferation and apoptotic markers
Time frame: 1 day
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