CtC

CTC is an acronym that can refer to several terms across different fields. The most common usages are in human resources as Cost to Company, and in medicine as Circulating Tumor Cells. The precise meaning is determined by context, and some industries may use CTC to denote other concepts.

Cost to Company refers to the total annual remuneration offered to an employee, including base salary, allowances, bonuses, retirement benefits, and other fringe benefits. It is used in compensation negotiations and job offers, particularly in parts of Asia and the Middle East. CTC is not the same as take‑home pay, as deductions such as taxes and employee contributions reduce the actual amount received. Employers may present CTC to reflect the total cost to the organization rather than the gross salary element.

Circulating Tumor Cells are cancer cells shed from a primary tumor into the bloodstream. Their detection in a blood sample, a liquid biopsy, can provide information about tumor burden, prognosis, and treatment response, and can be used to monitor metastatic disease in some cancer types. Techniques for CTC detection include enrichment methods and molecular analysis, but the field faces challenges such as rarity of cells and heterogeneity among tumors, which can limit sensitivity and specificity.

Other uses of CTC exist in various technical and organizational contexts, where the acronym stands for different terms. To determine the intended meaning, it is essential to rely on the surrounding subject matter.