We present our experience of using the Cell Block Technique in detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in malignant tumors. As a multitude of prognostic biomarkers for various cancers have been explored over the decades, with detection of CTCs in the peripheral blood being one of them, this study was undertaken to explore the routine procedure of cell block in the cytopathology lab to isolate and detect CTCs. We performed a cross-sectional study with 112 peripheral blood samples which were sent for routine blood investigations of various cancer patients for the preparation of cell block. The sections from the cell block were stained routinely and evaluated for the presence of CTCs. Statistical analysis was done using Mac Statplus software version 8.0. The malignancies were tabulated as per the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3). Maximum number of cases were from C 50 (Breast) - 41/112 (36.6%), followed by C15–C26 (Digestive organs) - 19/112 (16.9%), and C00–C14 (Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx) - 18/112 (16.07%) cases. CTCs were detected in six (5.35%) out of 112 cases, out of which three were from C50 (Breast) and one each from category C6.9 (mouth), C32.0 (glottis), and C53.8 (cervix uteri). Among various advanced and molecular techniques available for the detection of CTCs, the cell block technique proves to be one of the effective methods, especially in resource-limited settings as these can further be utilized for additional diagnostic techniques similar to the ones employed for routine paraffin blocks.

Jahnvi Vijay, currently pursuing her senior residency, has completed her Master’s Degree in Pathology from ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR, Bangalore under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India. She has a special interest in liquid biopsy and hematology. She has authored two peer-reviewed publications during her postgraduate period and has presented three oral papers in National/International conferences