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Updated: Nov 10, 2025
Rapid Isolation of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells from Patient Blood Samples
Published on: June 15, 2012
Capture-free deactivation of CTCs in the bloodstream; a metastasis suppression method by electrostatic stimulation of
Mohammadreza Ghaderinia1, Mohammad Ali Khayamian1, Hamed Abadijoo1
1Nano Electronic Center of Excellence, Nano Bio Electronic Devices Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, P.O. Box 14395/515.
Abstract:
While limited investigations have been reported on CTC elimination and its profits, recently, some new works were reported on detection followed by the destruction of CTCs. Limitations and complications of CTC capturing procedures have highly reduced the chance of selective destruction of CTCs in the bloodstream in the therapeutic guidelines of the patients. Here, we selectively deactivated the invasive function of CTCs during their circulation in the bloodstream by exposing the whole blood to pure positive electrostatic charge stimulation (PPECS). Our treatment suppressed pulmonary metastasis and extended the survival of the mice had been intravenously injected by electrostatically deactivated 4T1 breast cancer CTCs. Moreover, the number of cancerous lung nodules was drastically reduced in the mice injected by treated CTCs in comparison with the non-treated cohort. Evaluating the side effect of the PPECS on the blood components revealed no major effect on the functional properties of the white blood cells, and just a negligible fraction (∼10%) was damaged during this process. This approach does not need any capturing or targeting of CTCs from the blood as it is focused on perturbing the electrical function of negatively-charged tumor cells after being exposed to positive electrostatic charges. Taken together, continuous in-vivo deactivation of CTCs by PPECS with no requirement to complicated capturing protocols may improve the survival of cancer patients.
Insights
Pure positive electrostatic charge stimulation (PPECS) effectively deactivates circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in vivo. This novel method suppresses metastasis and improves survival in preclinical models without complex cell capture.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Current strategies for eliminating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) face limitations due to complex capturing procedures, hindering therapeutic efficacy.
- There is a need for innovative approaches to selectively target and neutralize CTCs in the bloodstream to prevent metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of pure positive electrostatic charge stimulation (PPECS) in deactivating CTCs in vivo.
- To evaluate the impact of PPECS on pulmonary metastasis, survival rates, and blood component integrity in a preclinical cancer model.
Main Methods:
- Whole blood from mice was exposed to PPECS to selectively deactivate circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
- Mice intravenously injected with electrostatically deactivated 4T1 breast cancer CTCs were monitored for metastasis and survival.
- Side effects of PPECS on white blood cell function were assessed.
Main Results:
- PPECS treatment significantly suppressed pulmonary metastasis in mice injected with deactivated CTCs.
- Survival was extended in mice treated with electrostatically deactivated CTCs compared to controls.
- A negligible fraction (~10%) of white blood cells were affected, with no major impact on their functional properties.
Conclusions:
- Continuous in vivo deactivation of CTCs using PPECS offers a promising, non-invasive strategy for cancer therapy.
- This approach bypasses the need for complicated CTC capturing protocols, potentially improving patient survival.
- PPECS targets the inherent electrical properties of tumor cells, offering a novel mechanism for cancer treatment.
