Gene expression profiling and DNA methylation analyses of CTCs

Abstract

A variety of molecular assays have been developed for CTCs detection and molecular characterization. Molecular assays are based on the nucleic acid analysis in CTCs and are based on total RNA isolation and subsequent mRNA quantification of specific genes, or isolation of genomic DNA that can be for DNA methylation studies and mutation analysis. This review is mainly focused on gene expression and methylation studies in CTCs in various types of cancer.

Keywords: CTCs; Circulating Tumor Cells; Gene expression; Methylation specific PCR; Molecular assays; Molecular characterization; Multiplex RT-PCR; Quantitative PCR (qPCR); RT-qPCR; Reverse transcription PCR.