Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals profound changes in circulating immune cells in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Identification of signatures of immune cells at single-cell level may provide novel insights into changes of immune-related disorders. Therefore, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing to determine the impact of heart failure on circulating immune cells.

Methods And Results: We demonstrate a significant change in monocyte to T-cell ratio in patients with heart failure, compared to healthy subjects, which were validated by flow cytometry analysis.

[Detection of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients with a new molecular method].

Objectives: Numerous studies have shown that the presence of clinically occult disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in the bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer patients is associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) remains the gold standard for their detection. Assays based on RT-PCR are available; however so far they have not been used for routine detection of DTC.

ERalpha-status of disseminated tumour cells in bone marrow of primary breast cancer patients.

Introduction: Isolated disseminated tumour cells (DTC) are regarded as surrogate markers for minimal residual disease in breast cancer. Characterisation of these cells could help understand the known limitations of adjuvant therapy. Of particular interest is their oestrogen-receptor (ER) status because endocrine adjuvant therapy remains a cornerstone of breast cancer treatment.

Evaluation of a RT-PCR based routine screening tool for the detection of disseminated epithelial cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Numerous studies have shown that the presence of clinically occult disseminated tumor cells (DTC's) in the bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer patients is associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) remains the gold standard for their detection. While assays based on RT-PCR are available, they have not been used for routine detection of DTC's.

Primary systemic therapy does not eradicate disseminated tumor cells in breast cancer patients.

Introduction: The presence of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients has proven to be an independent prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of tumor cell dissemination after primary systemic therapy in relation to therapy response.

Methods: Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from 120 patients after completion of primary systemic therapy.