image: Shown in the image are two circulating tumor cells (circulating tumor cells) captured on a micropost. The cells are identified as circulating tumor cells due to their positivity for PSA (green) and DNA (blue). In addition, one of the cells (the upper cell) is also positive for a proliferation marker, shown in red, while the second cell is proliferation-negative. This image illustrates the heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells within the same patient. This image relates to an article that appeared in the March 31, 2010, issue of Science Translational Medicine. The study, by Dr. S.L. Stott of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., and colleagues was titled, "Isolation and Characterization of Circulating Tumor Cells from Localized and Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients." view more
Credit: Image courtesy of S. Stott