Clinical Trials

Study of Circulating Cancer Cells in Patients With Metastatic Breast, Ovarian, Colon, or Pancreatic Cancer

Location:

Trial status:

Inactive

Why is this study being done?

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).

Who is eligible to participate?

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Radiographic or marker evidence of metastatic ovarian, breast, pancreatic, or colon disease

- Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Menopausal status not specified

- No history of any prior cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior therapy for metastatic disease

Last updated: 07/18/2011

NCT ID:

NCT00898781