Study Evaluating the Prognostic and Predictive Value of Response to First-Line Chemotherapy by Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Predict the overall and progression-free survival of patients with stage IV breast cancer by measuring the rate of circulating tumor cells (CTC) before the second course of chemotherapy.

Secondary

• Predict overall and progression-free survival of these patients by measuring the rate of CTC before the start of chemotherapy, at the first tumor evaluation, and after 2-3 courses of chemotherapy.
• Correlate the detection of CTC with tumor markers, clinical response, and radiological response.
• Study the changing status of HER-2 in CTC in patients receiving trastuzmab (Herceptin®).