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Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry

The development of flow cytometry techniques began in 1934 with initial attempts by Andrew Moldavan, a bacteriologist who counted the cells in a flowing capillary system. Moldavan pumped cells through a capillary tube focused under a microscope for visualization. The invention of photometry allowed the measurement of differentially-stained cells, and Louis Kamentsky developed the first multiparameter flow cytometer in 1965 to identify and count the cancer cells in cervical tissue specimens.
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Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation

Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation

Cell separation was first achieved in 1964 by S. H. Seal, who separated large tumor cells from the smaller blood cells using filtration. Two years later, Pohl and Hawk performed experiments on how cells respond differently to a nonuniform electric field based on the cell type. Such observations were the inception of cell separation methods, which allow isolating a single cell type from a heterogeneous sample.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Harnessing the DNA Dye-triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples

Harnessing the DNA Dye-triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples

Published on: May 10, 2017

Flow cytometry in cancer stem cell analysis and separation.

Burkhard Greve¹, Reinhard Kelsch, Kristina Spaniol

¹Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany. greveb@uni-muenster.de

Cytometry. Part a : the Journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology

|February 8, 2012

Summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive tumor recurrence and metastasis. This review details flow cytometry methods for identifying and isolating CSCs, focusing on side population analysis and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Harnessing the DNA Dye-triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples

Harnessing the DNA Dye-triggered Side Population Phenotype to Detect and Purify Cancer Stem Cells from Biological Samples

Published on: May 10, 2017

Analysis of Side Population in Solid Tumor Cell Lines

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Published on: July 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Oncology
Cell Biology
Biotechnology

Background:

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Effective cancer therapies require reliable methods for CSC identification and isolation.
CSCs share characteristics with other stem cells, including specific surface antigens and functional properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To review principles and strategies for flow cytometric analysis of CSCs.
To provide an overview of current protocols, technical requirements, and potential pitfalls.
To highlight side population (SP) analysis and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity assays for CSCs.

Main Methods:

Flow cytometry for CSC identification and isolation.
Side population (SP) analysis utilizing ATP-binding cassette transporter activity.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isoform 1 activity assay for CSC labeling.
Analysis of cell surface markers (e.g., cluster of differentiation antigens).

Main Results:

Specific surface antigens and functional assays enable CSC identification.
SP analysis leverages dye efflux mediated by ATP-binding cassette transporters.
ALDH activity provides a marker for CSCs.
Flow cytometry requires specific technical adjustments for accurate CSC analysis.

Conclusions:

Flow cytometry is crucial for analyzing CSC functional features.
SP analysis and ALDH activity are key methods for CSC characterization.
Optimized flow cytometry protocols are essential for advancing CSC research and therapeutic strategies.