Is there any easy way to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs)?

A suggestion for a good overview of CTC isolation methods & CTC enrichment—with a focus on breast cancer: Article Comparative performance of different methods for circulating...

Brief background: CTC isolation methods can be grouped into two big categories

Separation based on physical properties (e.g., size, deformability)

Selection via expression of specific markers (e.g., epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), see also FDA-approved platform for CTC isolation CellSearch® from whole blood)*

Side note: EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) leads to loss of EpCAM (limits the range of CTCs you can isolate): https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/6/eaav4275 (!!)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26576938/

Francis Tieng

Hello, Hamad. There are various methods for CTC enrichment techniques including the immunoaffinity-based purification (biological), biophysical isolation methods that rely on the differential size and/or density of CTCs and di-electrophoretic-based strategies.

Among them, CTC enrichment by immunoaffinity is the most widely used strategy for CTC isolation. The current gold standard is the CellSearch® system (Veridex). It is also FDA-approved. In my opinion, it is best to select a specific marker-based enrichment method where the CTCs could be isolated and enriched with high specificity from other hematogenous cells.

I have included a few citations on the other types of enrichment strategies. Do have a look.

References:

1. Article Circulating tumor cells and breast cancer‑specific mutations...

2. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/7/1930/pdf

3. Article Comparative performance of different methods for circulating...

Joachim Pimiskern

In addition, some methods:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349856122_The_Mechanical_Fingerprint_of_Circulating_Tumor_Cells_CTCs_in_Breast_Cancer_Patients

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341636530_Can_tumor_cells_be_distinguished_from_blood_cells_by_mechanical_parameters_A_label-free_CTC_detection_approach

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/aiop-mdc061819.php

https://newatlas.com/cancer-cells-laser-ultrasound-detection-and-treatment/60158/

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-acoustic-microfluidic-platform-gently-quickly.html

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-04/lu-eab041718.php

https://phys.org/news/2016-11-tool-track-circulating-cancer-cells.html

https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/diagnostics/laser-destroys-cancer-cells-circulating-in-the-blood

https://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.5.028796/full/

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/76/24_Supplement/A10.short?rss=1

https://www.medgadget.com/2016/04/device-captures-circulating-tumor-cells-keeps-them-alive-for-testing.html

https://www.medgadget.com/2015/09/sponge-captures-circulating-tumor-cells-to-spot-prevent-spread-of-cancer.html

https://www.medgadget.com/2015/05/automated-flow-cytometer-counts-circulating-tumor-cells.html

https://phys.org/news/2015-05-device-successfully-captures-metastasis-associated-circulating.html

https://www.medgadget.com/2015/05/microchip-captures-circulating-tumor-cell-clusters-to-study-spread-of-cancer.html

https://www.medgadget.com/2015/04/acoustic-waves-separate-circulating-tumor-cells-with-ease-video.html

https://rh.gatech.edu/news/405191/new-device-captures-metastasis-associated-circulating-tumor-cell-clusters

https://www.medgadget.com/2015/01/nanovelcro-chip-now-makes-ctcs-easy-snap-off-analysis.html

https://scienceblog.com/7533/team-claims-stem-cell-breakthrough/

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-11/nu-fgt111414.php

https://www.medgadget.com/2014/05/clearbridge-biomedics-launching-clearcell-fx-system-for-capturing-circulating-tumor-cell.html

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