Circulating Tumor Cells as Predictive Biomarkers and Living Biospecimens for Cancer Monitoring and Tumor Biology Profiling

Alexandre Tavartkiladze, Russel J. Reiter, Dinara Kasradze, Revaz Turmanidze

Abstract: Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), as intact viable cancer cells shed into the bloodstream, offer unique opportunities for early cancer detection and real-time tumor monitoring. This review evaluates the clinical relevance of CTCs across various tumor types, emphasizing their predictive value and potential as dynamic biospecimens. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across peer-reviewed databases to identify studies examining CTCs as predictive biomarkers and functional biospecimens. Both clinical trials and translational research addressing CTC-based detection, enumeration, and phenotyping were included. Results: Key findings demonstrate that CTC detection can precede traditional biomarkers and imaging modalities, offering earlier insights into disease progression and therapeutic response. In high-risk hepatitis patients, CTCs preceded HCC diagnosis by months; in NSCLC, in vivo CTC capture identified patients with early recurrence; and in breast cancer, CTC-based melatonin receptor (MT1) profiling revealed subtype-dependent receptor patterns that suggest timing and biological context likely influence CTC-based biomarker interpretation. The article also explores the integration of CTC phenotyping with receptor profiling, circadian biology, and host-response markers to refine risk stratification and personalize oncologic care. Conclusions: A translational roadmap is proposed to enhance the clinical adoption of CTC-based strategies through standardized methodologies and multimodal biomarker integration.

Keywords: circulating tumor cells, liquid biopsy, early cancer detection, receptor profiling, cancer monitoring

How to Cite?: Alexandre Tavartkiladze, Russel J. Reiter, Dinara Kasradze, Revaz Turmanidze, "Circulating Tumor Cells as Predictive Biomarkers and Living Biospecimens for Cancer Monitoring and Tumor Biology Profiling", Volume 15 Issue 1, January 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 706-714, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26105033115, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26105033115