Objective:

To evaluate the feasibility of detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood samples from children with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), and to analyze their clinical predictive value in monitoring tumor progression, which may inform treatment strategies.

Key Findings:

• Effective CTC reports were obtained from 34 peripheral blood samples and 34 CSF samples, indicating a reliable detection method.
• The study included 37 CSF cytology tests and 28 MRI scans from six patients, providing a comprehensive dataset.
• CTCs showed potential as a predictive biomarker for tumor progression in ATRT, with statistical significance warranting further investigation.

Interpretation:

The presence and quantification of CTCs may serve as a valuable tool for early prediction of tumor progression in pediatric patients with ATRT, potentially guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• Limited sample size with only six patients involved in the study, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
• Retrospective design may introduce biases in data collection and analysis, potentially impacting the reliability of results.

Conclusion:

CTCs could provide significant insights into the progression of ATRT in young children, warranting further research to validate these findings and explore their clinical applications, particularly in treatment personalization.