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Capture and Release of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells from Blood
Published on: October 28, 2016
Nanotechnology for the detection and kill of circulating tumor cells
1Department of Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Abstract:
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent a surrogate biomarker of hematogenous metastases and thus could be considered as a 'liquid biopsy' which reveals metastasis in action. But it is absolutely a challenge to detect CTCs due to their extreme rarity. At present, the most common principle is to take advantage of the epithelial surface markers of CTCs which attach to a specific antibody. Antibody-magnetic nanobeads combine with the epithelial surface markers, and then the compound is processed by washing, separation, and detection. However, a proportion of CTC antigen expressions are down-regulated or lost in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and thus, this part of CTCs cannot be detected by classical detection methods such as CellSearch. To resolve this problem, some multiple-marker CTC detections have been developed rapidly. Additionally, nanotechnology is a promising approach to kill CTCs with high efficiency. Implantable nanotubes coated with apoptosis-promoting molecules improve the disease-free survival and overall survival. The review introduces some novel CTC detection techniques and therapeutic methods by virtue of nanotechnology to provide a better knowledge of the progress about CTC study.
Insights
Detecting rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is challenging. Nanotechnology offers novel methods for detecting and treating CTCs, improving survival outcomes for metastatic cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are key indicators of metastasis and can be analyzed as a 'liquid biopsy'.
- Detecting CTCs is difficult due to their extreme rarity and the challenge of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) down-regulating surface markers.
- Current methods like CellSearch may miss CTCs that have undergone EMT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel nanotechnology-based methods for CTC detection and therapy.
- To highlight advancements in overcoming limitations of traditional CTC detection.
- To provide insights into the progress of CTC research using nanotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing antibody-magnetic nanobeads targeting epithelial surface markers for CTC capture.
- Developing multiple-marker detection strategies to identify CTCs with down-regulated antigens.
- Employing implantable nanotubes coated with apoptosis-promoting molecules for CTC elimination.
Main Results:
- Nanotechnology enables efficient detection of rare CTCs, including those affected by EMT.
- Nanoparticle-based therapies show promise in improving disease-free and overall survival.
- Novel techniques enhance the understanding and potential treatment of hematogenous metastases.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology presents innovative solutions for CTC detection and therapeutic strategies.
- Advanced methods are crucial for accurately identifying and targeting metastatic cancer cells.
- Further research in nanotech-driven approaches can significantly impact cancer patient outcomes.
