Real‐time monitoring of circulating tumor cell release during tumor manipulation using in vivo photoacoustic and fluorescent flow cytometry

Abstract

Standard medical procedures could trigger CTC release that may increase the risk of metastases. This finding suggests the guidance of cancer treatment and likely diagnosis by real-time monitoring of CTC dynamics followed by well-timed treatment to reduce CTCs in the blood. In vivo detection of intervention-amplified CTCs could be used for early diagnosis of a small tumor, which is undetectable with conventional methods.