The Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Ovarian Cancer Dissemination

Simple Summary Ovarian cancer is the most lethal type of gynecological cancer. The leading cause of ovarian cancer patients' death is late diagnosis, disease progression, and metastasis, defined by the spread of invasive cancer cells. About 80% of ovarian cancer patients have disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis. Ovarian cancer metastasis can occur via the transcoelomic, hematogenous, or lymphatic route. Understanding the mechanisms that drive the process of cancer cell dissemination is the key to the development and successful implementation of new diagnostic and treatment methods, particularly drugs and/or therapies targeting metastasis. This review describes ovarian cancer cell dissemination linked to circulating tumor cells (CTCs), with special emphasis on cell biology and their clinical significance. Metastatic ovarian cancer is the main reason for treatment failures and consequent deaths. Ovarian cancer is predisposed to intraperitoneal dissemination. In comparison to the transcoelomic route, distant metastasis via lymph vessels and blood is less common. The mechanisms related to these two modes of cancer spread are poorly understood. Nevertheless, the presence of tumor cells circulating in the blood of OC patients is a well-established phenomenon confirming the significant role of lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis. Thus, the detection of CTCs may provide a minimally invasive tool for the identification of ovarian cancer, monitoring disease progression, and treatment effectiveness. This review focuses on the biology of ovarian CTCs and the role they may play in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the biology of ovarian circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their role in the diagnosis and therapy of ovarian cancer.