Circulating Tumor Cells: Clinically Relevant Molecular Access Based on a Novel CTC Flow Cell

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086717
• Publication Date: 2014-01-29T21:45:30Z
• Authors: Jessamine P. Wine...; Behrad Vahidi; Norma Arquilevich; Cong Fang; Samuel Ferguson; Darren Harkins; Cory Hill; Erich Klem; Paul C. Pagano; Chrissy Peasley; Juan Romero; Robert Shartle; Robert C. Vasko; William M. Strauss; Paul W. Dempsey
• Keywords: Circulating tumor cell; Liquid biopsy; Limiting

Background Contemporary cancer diagnostics are becoming increasing reliant upon sophisticated new molecular methods for analyzing genetic information. Limiting the scope of these technologies is lack adequate solid tumor tissue samples. Patients may present with tumors that not accessible to biopsy or longitudinal monitoring. One attractive alternate source cells in peripheral blood. These rare circulating (CTC) require enrichment and isolation before analysis can be performed. Current CTC platforms either throughput reliability use a clinical setting they provide samples at purities restrict access by limiting tools available. Methodology/Principal Findings Recent advances magetophoresis microfluidics have been employed produce an automated platform called LiquidBiopsy®. This uses high sheath flow positive selection populations. Furthermore quantitatively isolates useful such as detection mutations. recovery was characterized validated accuracy (<20% error) precision (CV<25%) down least 9 CTC/ml. Using anti-EpCAM antibodies capture agent, recovers 78% MCF7 within linear range. Non specific background independent target cell density averages 55 cells/mL. 10% purity achieved low 6 CTCs/mL better than 1% 1 CTC/mL. Conclusions/Significance The LiquidBiopsy provides population. It integrated into lab enabling enumeration well consistently quantitative PCR Next Generation Sequencing. tool opens way clinically relevant profiling CTCs.