Evaluation of metastatic potential of circulating tumor cells using quantitative phase imaging (QPI)

摘要

Revealing and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is one of the most actively investigated field ofoncology. It was established by the past time studies that some of these cells were in condition of apoptosis and socouldn’t initiate formation of a clinically significant metastasis. The novel opportunities associated with development ofcomputer technologies and interferential microscopes facilitate the solution of many medico-biological problems. One ofthem is a method of determination of CTCs functional condition based on the phase-interferential characteristics of theirnuclear structures which reflect cellular metabolic and proliferative activity and are the markers of their malignanttransformation.The analysis was carried out of the morphodensitometric biomarkers of the metastatic activity of circulating tumorouscells including conformational alterations of their nuclear structures. The reference collection of phase images ofmetastatic cells was created as well as the data of the morphodensitometric parameters of their metabolic activity wasreceived.A new information was received about heterogeneity of the circulating tumorous cells with different metastatic activitywhich allows the broadening of fundamental scientific knowledge concerning cancerogenesis, individualization of theobservation and treatment of patients, improvement of the quality of treatment, and optimization of its cost.