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Research

Role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

20 Jul 2023
Annie Kanchan Baa, Atul Sharma, Suman Bhaskar, Ahitagni Biswas, Alok Thakar, Rajeev Kumar, Sreeja Jayant, Gourishankar Aland, Alain D’Souza, Vikas Jadhav, Atul Bharde, Jayant Khandare, Raja Pramanik

Background: Liquid biopsy is emerging as a non-invasive tool, providing a personalized snapshot of a primary and metastatic tumour. It aids in detecting early metastasis, recurrence or resistance to the disease. We aimed to assess the role of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as a predictive biomarker in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)).

Methodology: Thirty-five patients receiving palliative chemotherapy underwent blood sampling [2 mL in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) vial] at baseline and at 3 months intervals. The CTCs were isolated and evaluated using anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibody-based enrichment using the OncoDiscover platform.

Results: CTCs isolated from 80% of patients (n = 28) showed the sensitivity of cell detection at the baseline and 3 months intervals. The median CTC count was 1/1.5 mL of blood and the concordance with clinic-radiological outcomes was 51.4%. The median CTC count (1 (range:0–4) to 0 (range:0–1)) declined at 3 months in responders, while the non-responders had an increase in levels (0 (range :0–2) to 1 (range :0–3)). Although CTCs positively correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), the association of CTCs did not show a significant difference with these parameters (PFS: 6 months versus 4 months; hazard ratio: 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29–1.58, p = 0.323; OS: 10 months versus 8 months; hazard ratio: 0.54; 95% (CI):0.18–1.57 p = 0.216) between CTC positive and CTC negative patients at 3 months.

Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of CTC as a disease progression-monitoring tool in recurrent HNSCC patients. Our findings suggest the potential clinical utility of CTC and the need for exploration in upfront settings of the disease as well (NCT: CTRL/2020/02/023378).

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