Insight

Carolina Reduzzi and Lorenzo Gerratana

Apr 6, 2025, 12:51

Carolina Reduzzi and Lorenzo Gerratana on integrating CTCs and ctDNA in metastatic breast cancer management

Carolina Reduzzi, Assistant Professor and Director of the Liquid Biopsy Platform and Cristofanilli Circulating Tumor Cells Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine, shared a LinkedIn post by Lorenzo Gerratana, Associate Professor of Medicine and Scientific Lead for Breast Medical Oncology at the CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute and the University of Udine, adding:

“How can we combine CTCs and ctDNA to refine therapeutic strategies in metastatic breast cancer?

Read about it in our new paper!”

Quoting Lorenzo Gerratana‘s post:

“What are the current clinical opportunities of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in breast cancer?

CTCs are a well-established prognostic biomarker, particularly in metastatic breast cancer:
– stage IV aggressive: ≥5 CTCs/7.5 mL → associated with shorter survival
– stage IV indolent: <5 CTCs/7.5 mL → less aggressive disease

Why does this matter?
CTC dynamics can inform treatment intensity – as shown in trials like STIC CTC – and may be integrated with other liquid biopsy components (e.g., ctDNA) to further refine therapeutic decisions.

In our review, we propose a clinical trial model where:
• Patients are stratified by CTC count and phenotype
• Treatment is intensified or de-intensified accordingly
• Longitudinal CTC/ctDNA monitoring guides adaptive interventions
• Outcomes are evaluated in the context of molecular profiles

This biomarker-driven approach could help tailor therapy beyond conventional clinical or imaging criteria, moving toward truly personalized oncology. ”

Mapping breast cancer therapy with circulating tumor cells: The expert perspective

Authors: Lorenzo Gerratana, Carolina Reduzzi et al. Carolina Reduzzi and Lorenzo Gerratana

Learn more about breast cancer on OncoDaily.

Breast Cancer cancer Carolina Reduzzi Caterina Gianni Eleonora Nicolò François-Clément Bidard Letizia Pontolillo Lorenzo Gerratana Massimo Cristofanilli OncoDaily Oncology

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