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Updated: May 6, 2026
Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology
Published on: November 14, 2025
Advanced technologies for studying circulating tumor cells at the protein level
Charles Ming Lok Chan1, Thomas Chi Chuen Au, Anthony Tak Cheung Chan
1Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir Y K Pao Centre for Cancer, Hong Kong Cancer Institute and Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Metastasis, a leading cause of cancer mortality, involves circulating tumor cells (CTCs) spreading to new organs. Understanding CTC biology through advanced protein analysis is crucial for developing new treatments to combat cancer spread.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Metastasis is the primary driver of cancer-related mortality.
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) shed from primary tumors and establish distant metastases.
- Understanding CTC biology is critical for developing effective anti-metastasis therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review commonly used protein markers for investigating CTCs.
- To summarize advanced technologies for studying CTC biology at the protein level.
- To highlight recent technological advancements in CTC research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on CTC protein markers.
- Summary of advanced proteomic and imaging technologies for CTC analysis.
- Discussion of techniques for CTC isolation and examination.
Main Results:
- Identification of key protein markers utilized in CTC studies.
- Overview of cutting-edge technologies enabling detailed CTC protein analysis.
- Demonstration of technological progress in CTC research.
Conclusions:
- Advanced technologies significantly enhance the study of CTC biology.
- Protein-level analysis of CTCs offers new avenues for therapeutic development.
- Further research into CTCs is essential to reduce metastasis-associated cancer deaths.
