Study of Circulating Cancer Cells in Patients With Metastatic Breast, Ovarian, Colon, or Pancreatic Cancer

Molecular Detection of Circulating Cancer Cells in Breast, Ovarian, Colon and Pancreatic Cancer

RATIONALE: Counting the number of circulating cancer cells in samples of blood from patients with metastatic cancer may help doctors find out how much the cancer has spread.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at the number of circulating cancer cells in patients with metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, or pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

• To assess frequency of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with metastatic ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and colon cancers.
• To assess the variability in number of CTCs between patients with the same tumor type.
• To correlate the number of CTCs with extent of tumor burden as measured by tumor markers, imaging, and the number of metastatic sites and proliferation and apoptotic markers.

OUTLINE: Blood samples are collected before treatment and analyzed using molecular detection techniques to detect circulating cancer cells. Samples are assessed by immunofluorescence for markers of proliferation and survival (e.g., EGFR, phosphorylated EGFR, AKT, phosphorylated AKT, cytokeratins, MAPK, Src, and FAK).

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Radiographic or marker evidence of metastatic ovarian, breast, pancreatic, or colon disease
• Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Menopausal status not specified
• No history of any prior cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior therapy for metastatic disease