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Microfluidics-based High-throughput Circulating Tumor Cell Sorting and Single-cell Sequencing Technology
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847
Technical challenges in the isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells
Emma E van der Toom1, James E Verdone1, Michael A Gorin1
1The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Oncotarget
|August 13, 2016
Summary
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer insights into cancer
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cancer cells undergo dynamic molecular changes during systemic therapy.
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood are a valuable source for monitoring these changes.
- Current CTC isolation and detection methods have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review technical limitations and pitfalls of common CTC isolation and detection strategies.
- To highlight challenges in classifying rare cells as CTCs using biomarkers.
- To emphasize the need for standardized CTC definition criteria for future assays.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of CTC isolation and detection techniques.
- Analysis of common biomarkers used for CTC classification.
- Discussion of technical limitations and challenges.
Main Results:
- Existing CTC detection strategies have sensitivity and specificity limitations.
- Biomarker-based classification of rare cells as CTCs is challenging.
- A uniform definition for CTCs is crucial for future assay development.
Conclusions:
- Standardized criteria for defining circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are essential.
- Overcoming technical limitations in CTC detection is critical for accurate cancer monitoring.
- Future research should focus on developing robust and validated CTC assays.
